The City Engineer’s Department is expected to cover an exposed manhole along James Street, Albouystown today after coming in for a tongue-lashing from city councillor Heston Bostwick over its failure to address the situation in his constituency and across the city.
During yesterday’s statutory city council meeting at City Hall, Bostwick, the Councillor for Albouystown/ Charles-town, accused the City Engineer’s Department of taking a laidback approach to the situation, while noting that it has been discussed at past statutory meetings and empty promises were made.
“Three children have already fallen into the manhole on James Street. There are elderly people using the street also and having that manhole open is not good,” Bostwick said.
Bostwick of the APNU, reminded the council that at the last statutory meeting, acting Chief City Engineer Kenson Boston had stated that covers for the manholes were being cured.
While providing an update on status of the covers, Boston explained that of the 41 covers, eleven were used while the remaining 30 were left in storage.
He said that while the Department did not cater for covering the hole at James Street, they can use boards as a substitute until the cover is created. However, Bostwick objected to this suggestion and noted that cars and other heavy vehicles use the road.
Bostwick further pointed out that promises were made by Boston to cover the manhole but to date it remains exposed.
Deputy Mayor Alfred Mentore suggested that given the urgency of the situation, the Engineer’s Department should use one of the covers from the remaining 30 for the James Street manhole.
Boston later clarified that all the covers were cured and he will instruct his workers to cover the manhole today. The council expects that the hole will be covered by 4 pm
In addition, Councillor Gregory Fraser also informed the council of another exposed manhole near the junction of Croal Street and United Nations Place. He told the council that the manhole is located on the pavement and explained that if someone falls in, it would be impossible to see them due to its depth.
He noted that the manhole, like the one at James Street is dangerous and urgently needs to be covered.
Meanwhile, Mayor Ubraj Narine, while listening to the excuses given as to why the other manholes were not yet covered, criticised the General Works crew of the City Engineer’s Department.
“These manholes would be covered next week and then the following week, that is all we are hearing. What is the general works workers doing? General Works do nothing. It is like if they are wasting time and resources of the council,” Narine complained.
Boston, in response, said the workers have been engaged in other works across the city.
However, the Mayor was not satisfied with the response and requested that the Engineer’s Department take him to the locations where the works have been undertaken.
