-by Celestine Chacon

A new sluice door will be tendered for – within the next month – to replace the damaged structure in the Schoonord community, where emergency works have resolved the immediate flooding situation last evening.

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha provided the update, explaining that a fishing boat struck the sluice door, damaging its lower section and allowing water to enter the community.

“We assessed the situation, we had emergency work carried out and we were able to fix stop locks to prevent any more water from coming into the community. So, the problem is resolved at present, whilst that is happening, we’ll now have to tender out for a new sluice door. And that will be within a month’s time,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) this morning handed over 300 janitorial and sanitation hampers to the Region Three RDC to assist households affected by the flooding.

The CDC remains in close coordination with the RDC and other local authorities while continuing to monitor the situation and assess the needs of affected communities.