Dear Editor,
A long shower has again inundated the city despite the commendable effort of the government, the city council and well-intentioned citizens and businesses. The problem with drainage in the city is more deep rooted and although we’ve had some work done, our shortcomings have been cruelly exposed again.
I want to suggest that we need at least a six-pronged pace attack, as follows:
- Desilting of the outfalls. Immediate work must be undertaken in desilting the outfalls. In this connection, the assistance of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association should be sought. I remember when I was involved in the cleanup both as a member of the IMC in 1994 and in one or two task forces with then Minister Xavier, we were ably assisted by miners. Mr Stanislaus Jardine aka Chungy comes to mind. I believe they have the necessary missile pumps that they can deploy in clearing the outfalls.
- Desilting of the canals. This exercise needs to be accelerated and the President should make an appeal to persons with hymacs, excavators and trucks to throw their weight behind the project. The Government should undertake to pay at least for the fuel and labour. Also, the NDIA may be able to assist with equipment. I also believe that we need to start concreting the drainage canals around the city and this will not only accommodate better parking arrangements, but will allow better use of the carriageways.
If we do one block, in each ward, in every year, in ten years all the canals within the boundaries (Lamaha Street/Sussex Street/ Vlissengen Road/ High Street) of old Georgetown should be concreted.
- Clearing of culverts and rehabilitation of kokers. This is rather self-explanatory but there is an intricate network of culverts, that is knowledgeable only to a few persons. The late George “Boyblue” Cumberbatch was well informed in this regard and I know that both Mr. Egbert Carter and Mr. Lloyd Alleyne are up to speed with this network.
- Fixing of the pumps. All pumps should be checked to ensure that they are working and there is availability of fuel and operators.
- Audit of recent construction. I recommend an audit be done of all the recent construction, maybe going back at least five years to ensure that persons did not build up their parapets (for parking etc) at the expense of the flow of the water. I believe that such an audit will reveal that there is a lot of restricted flow around the city, and the City Council may need to intervene under the bylaws to clear these stoppages.
- Removal of all garbage from the parapets. This is self-explanatory.
Yours faithfully,
Bish Panday
