This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GEORGETOWN 000053 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV EAID PGOV EAGR ECON ASEC CASC GY
SUBJECT: GUYANA FLOODING: Conservancy Dams near danger level 
 
REF: GEORGETOWN 0045 
 
¶1. SUMMARY. The Cabinet decided early Monday to open the 
Maduni sluices, which will greatly exacerbate flooding in 
agricultural areas on the Mahaica and Mahaicony Rivers, in 
order to relieve pressure on the East Demerara Water 
Conservancy (EDWC) which is reaching dangerous levels. 
While this is a proactive measure, GOG officials lack data 
to make informed decisions as to future flood prevention 
measures.  Reports from Essiquibo indicate that the Tapakuma 
Conservancy dam has been overtopping.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. The GoG announced Monday, January 16 that the Drainage 
and Irrigation Authority opened the Maduni sluices to lower 
the threatening water levels in the EDWC.  The GOG advised 
residents of the agricultural areas on the Mahaica Mahaicony 
River, a region suffering from major flooding for the past 
month (reftel), to take precautions in the face of an 
anticipated rise in water levels.  The region lies in the 
path of water released from the EDWC, and reluctance to 
flood the region contributed to the GOG's delayed response 
to high water levels in the EDWC during the January 2005 
floods. 
 
¶3. In a meeting to update the donor community on the 
situation, the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. 
Roger Luncheon, explained that rainfall to date has exceeded 
expectations and is anticipated to either continue or worsen 
in coming days.  Dr. Luncheon also advised that all but a 
few government meetings will be canceled in the next three 
days as cabinet ministers fan out to the affected regions. 
Luncheon stressed that Georgetown and the East Coast 
Demerara have so far been unaffected due to interventions 
made as a result of last year's flooding. 
 
¶4. In assessing the near-term outlook, Luncheon stated that 
officials will monitor the situation over the next 72 hours 
to determine of the rate of outflow at Maduni should 
increase or if an additional outlet at the Lama River will 
need to be opened.  However, Head of the Civil Defence 
Commission, Colonel Chabilall Ramsarup, acknowledged after 
the meeting that the GOG has no rainfall gauges in the 
conservancy or on the conservancy watersheds, so assessing 
how much water is draining relative to how much has fallen 
is impossible. 
 
¶5. Meanwhile, at a January 17 meeting of the Guyana 
Citizens' Initiative for Flood Relief, Major General (ret.) 
Joe Singh reported that the water level in the EDWC at 0800 
Tuesday was 58.65 (an increase of one inch overnight), 
despite the opening of the Maduni sluice. Singh expected the 
Lama sluice to be opened imminently, as the water level on 
both sides of the Maduni sluice was about even, limiting its 
drainage potential. However, the engineer at the EDWC 
reported to the Consul that the water level the morning of 
January 17 was 58.4, down from 58.5 the day before. The 
engineer also reported that the Lama sluice was not open. 
Such conflicting reports reflect the difficulty of obtaining 
accurate data on the status of the EDWC. 
 
¶6. While he was unable to provide a specific figure, 
Luncheon told donors that flooding has affected about 2000 
households, including 500 families on the Mahaica River, 700 
families on the Mahaicony River, and 40 on the Abrary River. 
Unlike the January 2005 floods which most affected the 
heavily populated coastline, much of this year's flooding 
has affected sparely populated agricultural lands (the 
"backlands") a few miles inland from the coast.  Many 
vulnerable persons have already relocated to the still dry 
"frontlands" of their own volition.  The response to date 
has been through GOG and local government channels, although 
some NGO's have offered assistance.  Luncheon and President 
Jagdeo have both said that GOG is not asking for 
international assistance, though it will accept if offered. 
The GoG also has not declared a disaster.  Post will assess 
prospects for assistance should the GOG request it. 
 
¶7. In addition to the briefing for the donor community, 
Luncheon said that President Jagdeo has already briefed 
Trade Unions, the Private Sector Commission, and the Leader 
of the Opposition on the flooding, while the Minister of 
Agriculture briefed a special session of Parliament on 
Thursday, January 12. 
 
¶8. Peace Corps exercised its communication system on Monday. 
All volunteers reported their sites to be dry, except one 
stationed at Capoey village who on the advice of local 
residents had relocated to Anna Regina on the Essequibo 
Coast after the nearby Tapakuma Conservancy began 
overtopping. 
 
¶9. Embassy facilities have NOT/NOT been affected by the 
current round of flooding. GSO has sandbags available to 
place at Embassy houses should the need arise. As for health 
concerns, the current danger is from water-borne diseases, 
rather than high water levels.  The GOG has been effectively 
using media channels to brief the public on the health 
dangers of floodwaters. 
 
¶10. Post's Emergency Action Committee will continue to 
monitor the situation (septel). 
 
¶11. Comment: There are two major differences with the 
January 2005 floods: (1) the interventions after the 2005 
floods to restore the drainage and irrigation 
infrastructure, although leaving much to be desired, have 
worked so far.  Georgetown and the populated East Coast have 
not so far experienced and serious or sustained flooding, 
although many buildings built on ground in violation of 
building codes have experienced intermittent water 
intrusion.  (2) This year the GoG is being much more pro- 
active sharing information and consulting concerned 
constituencies, including the donor community and the 
political opposition.  This in turn provides an environment 
in which people are able to make better-informed decisions 
and a political environment in which the government and 
opposition can concentrate on managing the situation rather 
than harping at each other. 
 
BULLEN