NDIA partners with M&CC
Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green
Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green

– to improve drainage in city

CITY Engineer Colvern Venture has said that he welcomes Cabinet’s decision to allow greater collaboration between the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday, he said he welcomes the additional support, which is to come on board from early next year, especially in view of the municipality’s cash-strapped state.

Due to the council’s financial woes, Venture said his department is prevented from executing much drainage works in a timely fashion.

At a meeting with the M&CC earlier this month Chief Executive Officer of the NDIA Frederick Flatts said his agency proposes to install two new pumping stations in Georgetown’s central business district and to increase the drainage capacity of the Liliendaal pump station.

Venture subsequently disclosed that in order to boost the capacity of the Liliendaal station, it was proposed that one of the new pumping stations be erected there. The location for the second station is still being worked out, he said.

Venture explained that although the municipality has already been receiving support from the NDIA, such support will be increased as of 2019.

Georgetown is expected to experience less overtopping in several sections of the city from January 2019, as a result of the collaboration to execute drainage works.

City Engineer Colvern Venture

Last November 5, a delegation from the City Council met with Flatts to discuss how the drainage system can be improved to alleviate flooding.
Flatts informed the meeting that from January 1, 2019, the NDIA was mandated by Cabinet to work in collaboration with the City Engineer’s Department to provide an improved service in the area of drainage.

He noted that the NDIA would be responsible for desilting and maintenance of all the main drainage canals in the city, including Downer, Young Street, Lamaha Street, Church Street, Avenue of the Republic and the Liliendaal canals.

While the council still has the main responsibility for desilting and cleaning street drains, alleyway drains, and other interlocking drains, Flatts said the NDIA will undertake to assist with the maintenance of the pumps and sluices.

Mayor Patricia Chase-Green expressed concern that the council has a policy which ensures that once a drainage project is implemented in a community, 50 per cent of the employees will come from that community where the works are to be done.

Chase-Green noted that council utilises the dual approach which allows community members to take ownership by involving them, and simultaneously providing employment for the unemployed.

With limited resources during 2017 and 2108, the council employed a community-based approach to clear drains in different sections of the city; these include Wortmanville, Lacytown, Bourda, Kitty, Newtown, Albouystown, Charlestown, Agricola and Mc Doom.
However, because of a financial shortfall, Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis said the council was unable to provide a rigid maintenance regime.

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