Task force targets floods
-- President to get report today
By Shawnel Cudjoe
Guyana Chronicle
January 3, 2005
MEASURES are being put in place to deal with the widespread flooding spawned by heavy rains and poor drainage in and around Georgetown, government ministers reported yesterday.
Many parts of the city were flooded Friday and over the weekend after heavy showers which continued in parts of the coast yesterday.
Minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Clinton Collymore, yesterday said that the City Engineer’s Department has begun to take action to ease flooding.
He said a report on the drainage system, which seems to be the main cause of the flooding, would be presented to President Bharrat Jagdeo today.
Mr. Collymore said the list of recommendations includes reconfiguring the drainage system in Georgetown which is being overtaken by the city's expansion.
He explained that the growing load on the drainage system causes underground drains to be easily clogged and it is difficult to clear the blockages.
Collymore said it was quite evident that Central Government must intervene in this matter, since the City Engineer's Department is unable to function effectively.
Transport and Hydraulics Minister, Mr. Anthony Xavier, yesterday said that so far, the flooding situation was under control.
He said President Jagdeo has formed a task force comprising himself, Mayor Hamilton Green, Deputy Mayor Robert Williams, Town Clerk Buelah Williams and Chief City Engineer Cephas James to deal with the matter.
The team is making recommendations on what should be done to ensure that there is no recurrence of the flooding and these will be presented to Mr. Jagdeo, he said.
Mr. Xavier said work will begin as soon as the recommendations are approved.
Adjustments were being made to some of the drainage pumps that had not been working properly so that these can continue to function efficiently and effectively, he reported.
When a team of government and city officials visited pump stations and kokers (sluices) on Friday after the city was swamped, James complained that his department was under-financed.
He said this contributed to its not functioning as effectively as it should.
However, Xavier pointed out during the visit, that the City Council received some $400M in rates and taxes from the government.
On the incident regarding the Riverview Koker attendant who the Local Government Ministry said turned up on the job seemingly under the influence of alcohol on Friday, Collymore yesterday indicated that the matter would be investigated and the necessary actions taken.
When the team visited the koker around 11:00 hrs, the attendant was missing and only one door was open, the ministry said in a press release.
He turned up some 15 minutes later, apparently under the influence of alcohol and at the insistence of ministry officials, opened the other door in the koker, the ministry said.
The heavy rains left many parts of the city and villages on the East Bank and East Coast Demerara under water on Friday.
Many stores in the city shopping district were flooded and had to be closed because shoppers could not get in.
Store owners also reported that stocks were damaged from the rising water.
Floods last week also damaged the National Cultural Centre which has been ordered closed for urgent repairs from flood damage.