…City Council to prosecute litterbugs
Heavy rains Wednesday night and into early yesterday dumped four inches of precipitation on the capital city.
This, combined with the high tide and wanton littering  caused overtopping of several canals and other drainage infrastructure in parts of Georgetown. The embarrassingly large amount of garbage in the city waterways, including styrofoam, plastic and other non- biodegradable materials, are affecting the efficient drainage of the city of Georgetown, the Municipal Public Relations Officer Royston King said in a press release yesterday.
Essentially, this is why the council continues to appeal to all citizens to desist from dumping their waste in the canals.
Notwithstanding that, with the exception of the pumps at Riverview and J.P Santos, (which are being serviced by the council’s mechanical workshop) all of the council’s hydro flow pumps are operable.  These pumps at Kitty and Liliendaal are electrically operated. A major source of concern is that they are connected to one power supply line. In the event of a power outage, the pumps would not work. Such a situation could affect the drainage in certain wards of the city.
Having regard to the fragility of the city’s drainage system and the importance of the drainage equipment,  some time ago the council had requested another independent power supply line to be connected to the pumps. Regrettably, this has not yet been addressed by the relevant agencies. Another power supply line to the existing one is necessary to facilitate a switch over, in case of a blackout in one phase of the power system, to allow the pumps to continue  operating. The council will make another attempt to secure this facility.
Over the last four months, the City Engineer’s Department carried out desilting and other drainage works on the Downer canal, Cane View canal, North Sideline canal and the Lamaha and Cummings canals. The works cost in excess of $50M.
The municipality is appealing to all citizens to avoid throwing their garbage on parapets and into alleyways and drains.
At a Public Health and Markets Committee meeting Wednesday, the deputy director of solid waste management told the meeting that some people were dumping their refuse on roadsides and on parapets in the city. The department has observed an increase in the number of accumulations in different parts of the city. Usually, such waste ends up in the drains and canals, clog the system, and create public health and environmental challenges for the council. It costs the council about $1M per day to pick up parapet waste. This is in addition to what is paid to collect and dispose of household and other wastes.
The constabulary has stepped up its patrol in the city.
Anyone founding littering the streets or dumping garbage in the canals will be prosecuted.