This picture of shoppers casually strolling by a sizeable pile of garbage – taken by Stabroek News photographer Aubrey Crawford last Wednesday at the corner of Camp and Regent streets, close to a building site – illustrates the unspeakable folly (or perhaps downright callousness) of minds that remain oblivious to the threat of flooding that hangs permanently over Georgetown.

We have no idea as to who may have committed this reprehensible act even though it is not unlikely that the pile of refuse may have been generated by the previous day’s trading at one downtown business house or another.

Probably the most likely fate of this pile of garbage is that it will be dispersed by the next heavy downpour,  eventually finding  its way into nearby drains to add to the already major woes associated with clogged waterways and attendant flooding.

Setting aside all the various other reasons for flooding that are ‘trotted out’ by the authorities from time to time, reckless (or callous) acts such as this will continue to threaten  our city whenever a brisk shower comes along.