Dear Editor,
I refer to a letter appearing in the Guyana Chronicle the day before yesterday which refers to a letter published by the Guyana Times on July 17, from D Charles. The headline suggests that we should consider moving the capital city to another location. This idea is not new, and I agree with the writer that this and related issues require serious consideration.
In the early 1970s Forbes Burnham made the same point about ‘shifting’ the capital, as he put it then, to higher ground. In fact some of us were tasked to work out the modalities, however, with the oil crisis which shook our economy, the idea was laid to rest.
It is something that we can discuss at the appropriate forum, if for no other reason than to allow all citizens to understand the history and nature of our capital.
The Dutch when they established the Colony of Demerara placed the capital on an island in the Demerara River called Borsselen. Due to European rivalry and a number of circumstances, what is now Georgetown developed its significance from an earlier location known as Stabroek, which was originally the Dutch signal station. The location of the capital was in the first place not a smart choice; the rest is history.
Mr Charles’s suggestion may have some validity. However, for one who has spent all his life in Georgetown, with modern technology and the support of a caring government which we now have; an effective municipality; the support of the business sector and an educated and disciplined citizenry, we can secure Georgetown and contiguous areas from flooding.
This requires the regular dredging and maintenance of our outfall channels; the clearing of all interlocking drains, trenches and waterways; and the absence of indiscriminate dumping in the said waterways.
Let it be known that I am in North America today and there is flooding in communities where there is no shortage of money, machinery, management and engineering skills.
The fact is, it is not feasible in areas which are below sea level or at sea level, to provide the infrastructure for unusual rainfalls such as those we experienced in Georgetown and its environs on the 15th,16th and 17th July. The fact is, the infrastructure of Georgetown is designed to handle 2.5 inches of rainfall in 24 hours, and the present state suggests that we can handle 1.5 to 2 inches of rainfall in the said 24 hours.
Last week, in a 24 hour period, “we had 8.26 inches of rainfall”. There is no need to comment further on this phenomenon.
To avoid flooding during heavy downpours in short periods, would require, in addition to the above, to increase our pumping capacity (the kokers must be closed at high tides). It is my belief that if these ideal conditions are put in place, we can be spared the trauma of flooding in Georgetown and its environs.
Mr Charles’s letter is of course interesting, when he refers to former President Jagdeo and former Minister Benn visiting the Dharm Shala. These two gentlemen did very little to save the city, however, I thank the many hotels and individuals who readily helped those families who could not find a dry spot to rest their heads for a few nights. Of course, with respect to the hotel that was built on property belonging to council in north-west Kingston, for which the previous administration did not compensate the Mayor and City Council one cent, the management of that hotel explained that they were full and could not rescue any of our citizens in their moment of distress.
Yours faithfully,
Hamilton Green
