CITY Hall has signalled a new determination to do whatever it takes to drain the city and restore it to its former glory, in the wake of the recent indignation arising from the flash flood that came with Tuesday’s heavy and prolonged rainfall and the ever present and spreading garbage piles. 

Already tangible steps are being taken to realise this feat. Beginning Wednesday night, the council in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Local Government embarked on a massive cleanup exercise outside the Public Buildings (Parliament). They targeted, first, the area south of Public Buildings, which accommodates the Linden bus park and to the east of the Public Buildings compound.
The workforce desilted drains around the compound as well as cleaned and washed the parapets on the periphery, while illegal makeshift structures were torn down and carted away.
City Engineer, Colwyn Venture made the announcement about the new thrust yesterday at Town Clerk Carol Sooba’s first media briefing for the year, held in her Chambers.
Outlining plans for draining and cleaning the city, Venture said, “We have embarked on major drainage works and hope to restore the city to a state of acceptance, but with the limited resources we have at present.” He is hopeful that with increased resources much more could be done.

FUNDAMENTAL INFRINGEMENTS
Venture noted that on inspecting strategic parts of the city, it was revealed that there were many fundamental infringements of the city’s by-laws, such as the indiscriminate blocking of waterways and drainage channels and this he blamed to a large extent on vending activities taking place around the city.
It was observed also that persons have been building illegal structures in places where they impede the receding of water off the land, while members of the public and shop owners have been offloading garbage into drains and outfall channels.
To this end, and with the distinct intention of alleviating such drainage problems, the city engineer is calling on errant members of the public and owners of businesses to desist from these offensive practices, which have major implications for all city dwellers, as well as visitors to the country.
Meanwhile, areas identified as being hotbeds for such wanton environmental malpractices include Regent and Cummings Street; King Street (between Regent Street and Robb Street) where persons dispose of waste in the alleyways.

‘JUNKIES’
And noting that vendors contribute a great deal to this hazard, Town Clerk Sooba also spoke about the practice whereby some business owners employ the services of social outcasts (junkies) to dump refuse about the city.
Also coming under the hammer are contractors who deposit building materials at the roadside and block drains, cause sand and stone to spill onto roadways and even dare to leave such construction material and illegal constructions and encumbrances after the building would have been completed.

‘ENOUGH IS ENOUGH’
Signalling that enough is enough, City Engineer Venture emphasised, “Businesses are warned that those who complete construction and still have building materials on the roads face having them seized. We will seize them, and the owners will have to pay fines to retrieve them.”
He also sounded a warning that vendors who have recently set up structures to ply their trade will be removed in the weeks ahead.
Venture assured also that the City Council will be trying its utmost to improve drainage and the condition of roads to improve the integrity of the city.
Meanwhile, regarding the indiscriminate dumping and littering, the council’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Jeffrey, almost throwing up her hands in despair, said, “Something is wrong with people…I believe that education is the key.” Noting that her department covers every area, she admitted that a manpower shortage constitutes a serious problem, but assured that the Public Health Department is willing to work with every sector to prevent outbreaks of sickness and disease.

‘CARRY THEM TO THE MEDIA’
Dr. Jeffrey also came up with a novel approach to the problem, calling on persons who see others littering and dumping to “Carry them to the media,” probably via digital photos.
And the Chief Constable was of the view that public awareness constitutes a very important part in efforts to keep the city clean. He called for public awareness programmes to be launched. “Attitudes must be changed,” he insisted. “Arrest them, have their photos taken and published in the media and elsewhere,” and hopefully that should serve as a deterrent, he added.
However, it appears in some cases that even arrests and charges do not deter some people since City Constabulary officers made it known that there are businesses that pay ‘junkies’ and others who will avail themselves to ‘dump’, then the business people pay the court fines.

(By Shirley Thomas)