Desperate residents of Mafeking Village Mayaro have had to become their own first responders, as there is no one to bring food and other supplies through floodwaters into the most-heavily-hit areas. The Sunday Guardian visited the small fishing village yesterday and spoke to several residents who say even though help has been forthcoming, they have had to carry in supplies to their marooned families and neighbours themselves. “The corporation bring hampers and water but is we self carrying it to everybody,” said Dale Mohammed, a 37-year-old resident of Chrysostom Trace, Mafeking. “Nothing can’t go in there. Last night (Friday) it had six feet of water by my house. we swim to come out and we had a small raft we carry in the stuff with.” “Is four of we doing everything, because it have plenty sick people and little children inside there who can’t come out,” said Shameeka Joseph, one of Mohammed’s neighbours.
For the past two days Mohammed and his neighbours have been surrounded by floodwaters that came from the Ortoire River, which broke its banks on Thursday after overnight rainfall. But they are just the tip of the iceberg, as on every street corner there are about ten people waiting for assistance. They are the ones strong and brave enough to carry supplies back to the others. Hundred others remain marooned in their homes and even though the water was receding in some areas, villagers say rainfall in Rio Claro or even Poole, will prolong their suffering.
“Once rain fall in Rio or Poole, all that water does come pelting down here,” said Mohammed. “We can’t even think about cleaning up right now, we only have to make sure we could have something to eat and drink.”
Chairman of the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation Hazarie Ramdeen, who was in the area meeting with residents, said the floods have affected more than 300 households in Mafeking. “We are unable to reach most of them on our own,” said Ramdeen. “The coast guard came too but it has mostly been villagers helping each other.” Ramdeen said the corporation is doing all it could to assist, including providing cooked meals, food hampers, mattressess and bottled water. “In every trace, there are a few of them who take in the supplies to the others. They really came together to help themselves and everyone else in their areas,” he said. Representatives of MP Winston Gypsy Peters, were visible in the area. They were assisted by teams from the Ministry of the People and Social Development in assessing damage and registering residents for food cards.