Williams reports…
GEORGETOWN Deputy Mayor, Robert Williams, said yesterday that the municipality is looking to secure all necessary human resources so that pump stations may be properly managed during the expected rainy season.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that, from all appearances and work done so far, the city is prepared to deal with and manage the drainage situation, in the event of heavy downpours.

Mr. Williams said the Mayor & City Council (M&CC) is trying to ensure that the sluices and pumps operators are in place with the necessary tools.

Based on information relayed to him, by the City Engineer, Mr. Gregory Erskine, Williams said all existing pumps are operable and a brand new one is to be installed in the Kitty ward shortly.

However, he said if the installation is not completed ahead of the rainy season, an alternative pump, already in place, would be used.

Williams said the new pump is capable of discharging four times the amount of water than the one in use now.

He said citizens, who are often engaged in the disposal of plastic and other items in alleyways and canals, make it difficult for the municipality to deal with the drainage situation during rainy periods.

Consequently, Williams said City Hall will be strengthening its enforcement arm and be on the lookout for those who litter.

“All the work we did, so far, can be negatived if the blockages continue to take place in the drains,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, in a press release yesterday, Public Relations Officer, Mr. Royston King, said the M&CC has observed that many citizens have started their traditional clean-up for Christmas and have been busy doing repairs to their houses.

As such, he urged residents to pay attention to the environment and display a deep sense of neighbourliness in their respective communities.

“In all of their cleaning activities, residents should spare a thought for the general surroundings and the natural environment in which they live,” King said.

He remarked that, in the past, the Council has received complaints about citizens throwing rubbish into their neighbours’ yards and on parapets.

Cleaning activities
“If citizens cleaning activities are dirtying the next yard over the fence, or any other part of their community or city, then they are not really trying to clean,” King stated.

He encouraged complainants to report such incidents by telephone to numbers 225-2218, 226-9976, 223-5126 and 223-5128.

“Also, citizens should not throw bulky rubbish, including old refrigerators and washers onto the parapets. Old wood, zinc and other builders’ waste should not be left on reserves or in front of neighbours’ properties or dumped in alleyways,” King said.

He added that those with such garbage should call the Solid Waste Management Department, on telephone number 223-5126 and make arrangements to have it removed.

To ensure compliance, King said the Constabulary has increased the number of ranks operating in different areas and the Public Health Department has intensified inspections in all wards.

However, he said a special activity to address littering will begin shortly in the main commercial areas of central Georgetown, with the focus on those businesses that do not have the requisite receptacles to store their waste.

King also noted that many businesses which do not have receptacles for the purpose dump their rubbish in the Council’s, which are in specific areas to facilitate its cleaners.

“All businesses are required to have proper receptacles to store their rubbish for collection by the council,” he reiterated.