PARAMARIBO, Suriname (CMC): Demonstrators picketed Parliament here to protest the Government's handling of flooding in parts of Suriname's interior and the capital, while lawmakers debated a lack of funding to drain the country.

Disgruntled residents from several communities Thursday morning staged a peaceful demonstration in front of Parliament demanding immediate government action. Forecasters warned that that week-long persistent rains would continue, triggering memories of floods exactly a year ago which forced thousands of residents to flee to higher ground.

During Thursday's session of the National Assembly several lawmakers linked a lack of maintenance of canals and other drainage systems to the flooding in several residential areas and the capital.