Stop the bad habits
Editorial
Guyana Chronicle
January 4, 2005
IT HAS emerged that the floods that swept Georgetown last week were due mainly to a drainage system that has been blocked by debris – much of it garbage dumped by uncaring citizens.
And what is now needed is a major clean-up of choked drainage canals.
Transport and Hydraulics Minister, Mr. Anthony Xavier, is a member of the task force President Bharrat Jagdeo put together last week to look at the flooding in the city and to come up with proposals to stem the tide.
Mr. Xavier told us yesterday that the team has recommended a major canal cleanup covering some five square miles in Georgetown.
The proposal is to comprehensively clean all street and alleyway drains in the major wards of the city, he said.
The clean-up campaign should cover Kitty, Kingston, North Ruimveldt, North East La Penitence, Werk-en-Rust, South Ruimveldt, Lacytown, among other areas, Xavier said.
"We are standing by and as soon as the President gives the go ahead, the clean-up will begin", he said.
Mr. Xavier also reported that to help drain water off the land, trash racks were yesterday removed from the John Fernandes sluice and another in Urquhart Street, Cummingsburg.
These racks trap debris from the running water and the minister said he was astonished at the huge amount of plastic and other solid waste that was removed when the racks were lifted out.
He explained that so huge was the blockage caused by debris, that within five minutes of the racks being removed, the water level in the trenches fell some three inches.
“I could not believe that people have been dumping so much rubbish in the canals and drains – this cannot continue because the damage is too enormous”, Mr. Xavier said.
He acknowledged that it would be impractical to ban plastic bottles, bags and styrofoam boxes that have become so popular to package beverages and food but said that citizens have to somehow be stopped from dumping garbage.
“We have to learn and get into the habit of putting garbage in bags and disposing of it properly so that it does not end up in the canals and drains”, he urged.
Appeals like these do not impact on the uncaring and tough measures are needed to stop the dumping of waste.
The City Council last year began hunting down those who litter the streets and hauled persons caught dropping candy wrappers, cigarette butts and similar items on the streets, before the courts.
We noted at the time that while the campaign was to be welcomed, the real culprits were not being trapped.
Now the rainy season is here and the city is reaping the harvest of the indiscriminate dumping of garbage.
Candy wrappers and cigarette butts do not block drainage canals and the authorities have to go after those whose dumping pose a real danger to the rest of the city.
The clear message is in the flood waters swamping Georgetown and preventing people from burying their dead.