Intense rainfall highlights impact of climate change – PPP General Secretary
General-Secretary of the PPP Mr. Clement Rohee
General-Secretary of the PPP Mr. Clement Rohee

SPEAKING at a People’s Progressive Party press conference, PPP General Secretary, Clement Rohee noted that with just about three to four hours of intense rainfall, several parts of the country, including Georgetown, were under several inches of water, which is clearly a pattern that is becoming prevalent with global warming.

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT
Rohee noted that the intense rainfall was not just limited to Guyana but also impacted some areas in Trinidad and Tobago, leading to the loss of billions of dollars in infrastructure, while in Barbados heavy rains and flash floods also wreaked havoc.
He observed also that the United States was hit by a winter storm which it did not see in decades, while torrential rains have been causing flooding in several states.
There was also flooding as a result of heavy rains in Scotland, France, Haiti, The Dominican Republic, England and many other countries around the world over the past three to four weeks.

Intense rainfall on Thursday last was “a wake-up call for the Guyanese citizens to understand the enormity of climate change and its impact on our livelihoods”- PPP General Secretary, Clement Rohee


BETTER WARNING

Rohee stated that the Government has made a significant investment to establish the Doppler radar system but there seems to be no maximisation of the kind of weather data and warning which this could provide.
He added, “Clearly there is a need for better warning systems so that both citizens and the relevant authorities could properly prepare responses to such weather events.”
Rohee noted that there is also the need to examine present drainage capacity to remove the large amount of water that accumulates from heavy downpours, such as what was experienced last Thursday.

CLEAN-UP CAMPAIGN

He also said that the impact of the flood could have been worse had it not been for the “Clean-up My Country” campaign, which in the Party’s view played a major role in draining parts of Guyana.
Rohee stated that the Party is also pleased that the current rice crop has not suffered as much as cash crop farmers and many households on the coastland, especially in Region 4.

ROLE OF CITIZENS

However, as citizens we cannot escape sharing some of the blame for last Thursday’s flooding, said Rohee. He stated that the improper disposal of garbage has been and continues to be a major contributing factor to clogged draining systems.
Moreover, he noted, there is little or no adherence to the building code in Georgetown and this is another contributing factor to the constant flooding in the city.
Rohee noted that when one looks around Georgetown the many parapets and draining gutters are no longer visible. This is so because many persons have filled those draining gutters to either create parking or extend their properties.
Rohee added that it is imperative that “we as a people look to the future and consider the many contributing factors in ensuring that we can, in the future, properly prepare to respond to these situations.”

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