APART from the current La Nina phenomenon, residents in the capital city have cited improper dumping of garbage and clogged drains as the main factor behind the recent flooding in Georgetown. Residents complain that despite efforts by the authorities to keep the city clean, some irresponsible citizens continue to disregard calls by City Council and the government to desist from improper dumping of solid waste, especially in canals and drainage systems in the city and its environs.
Speaking with this publication, Marcia Mollers, a food vendor from Albouystown, said residents in the area constantly dump garbage in the drains, and this leads to flooding whenever it rains.
Mollers said council workmen have been visiting the area to clear the clogged drains, but soon the drains are clogged again as residents continue to dump garbage in them.
A senior citizen from the South Ruimveldt area, Patrick Zephyr, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, said that once the drainage systems and the canals are maintained and are garbage-free, constant heavy showers during the rainy season would not have as much an impact as they do now.
Zepher said that while he is pleased with the infrastructural works that are being done in the community, there is still a need for more works from the council and the ministry in charge to ensure that the drains are properly kept.
“If they should clean these two drains (close to his home) and clear them completely, it would ease the situation tremendously; the last time they came they only cleaned one, and the other one is blocked up again by now.”
Further, he said that his main concern is the health of children in the area who have to walk in the flooded streets to and from school, as this could be detrimental to their health.
He said that parents are skeptical about sending their children to school during the rainy season because of the flooding, and this is hindering their education.
“Basically I have been living here for about 40 years, and this area had this flooding problem long; but what I’m more concerned about is the entrance to the school, once you pass the alley, this area is like a trench,” he explained.
Another citizen, Rashley Charles, said that his children did not attend school yesterday because of the rain and the flooding.
He said that while some parents might be able to drive their children to school or hire a taxi to do so, others could not afford this and so their children are missing school.
Also, he said that persons are remembering the 2005 flood, and are fearful that if this flooding continues, it could be a major threat around the country.
A hire car driver in the city said that he is displeased with the current situation, and noted that it has been affecting his work tremendously, especially in the Alboystown area where he is stationed.
“I think they should dig all the drains and when the koker block up like this, all the water from up there coming down and leave here, most time it pulls off, but the garbage here full in the trenches, we want them to clean the drain and let the water go down.”
The Health Ministry is advising citizens to take precautions and not allow their children to play in the flood waters.