After heavy rain…
GEORGETOWN Major Hamilton Green, yesterday again, appealed to citizens to stop disposing of their garbage in the city waterways, calling the practice no better than “cultural barbarism.”
He issued the appeal at a media conference on the municipality’s preparation for the current rainy season.
Speaking last Friday at City Hall, Regent Street and Avenue of the Republic, Green said the heavy water accumulation in the capital would not occur, if people dispose of their refuse in an environmentally friendly manner.
He said, while the fine for litterbugs is $10,000 and at least 10 defaulters appear in Court weekly, the City Council prefers to educate the public on the consequences rather than levy the penalty.
Green, however, lamented that the sloth with which the Court deals with such matters remains a major hindrance.
He is hopeful that a municipal court to try the cases would be included in the local government reform.
Green said, through that approach, residents will help reduce the water accumulation and praised Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud for their interest in the problem.
Heavy rain Wednesday night through Thursday midday, which caused a major build-up of water in Georgetown, particularly in the busy thoroughfares, did not continue yesterday.
Most of the accumulated volumes on the coastland also receded, as a result of better weather.
Structures
Green reported that the drainage structures in the city are working, but the river channel needs clearing to accelerate the draining.
He announced, that the repairs to second pump at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, should be completed in two weeks and two new pumps, which were ordered for the Kitty Pump Station, should arrive here by the end of July.
Green said the mobile one at Liliendaal, belonging to the Ministry of Agriculture, is expected to be operational in the next 24 hours.
He also suggested that Guyana Power & Light (GPL) should make available an alternative source of electricity for the city in times of blackout when a great amount of excess water is put on hold until current is restored.
Green explained, that the drainage mechanisms in the capital, like those on the coastland, can only withstand about two inches of rainfall in a 24 hours period and, when that amount is exceed, the water begins to accumulate.
He described the city drainage as complex and historical in nature, with water exiting through a network of canals, drains, kokers and sluices, into Demerara River.
Green recalled that, a few years ago, the M&CC had started to discharge water directly into the Atlantic Ocean because, like the sluices and kokers, the Demerara Bar needs to be desilted to effect efficient drainage to the Atlantic. Moreso, in light of a recent study which indicated that mud from the Amazon region is around that and other areas, he said.
Addressing another issue, Green said the rates paid by Bourda Market stallholders are set to meet the daily management expenses of the city.
His explanation, followed laments by some vendors over the increasing of tariffs while not honouring promises made, to execute infrastructural development works at the facility.
But Green said, the M&CC has had great difficulty in garnering much needed revenue and the rise should not be viewed as irresponsible, since the municipality is operating with a limited budget.
