THE geography and other natural circumstances of Georgetown make even the best efforts of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to effect proper drainage a serious challenge, Public Relations Officer Royston King said yesterday. In a press release, he said, over the last 96 hours, the capital had about four inches of rain but its drainage caters for 1 ½ inches of rainfall over a 24-hour period. As a result, many local communities experienced overtopping.
King said: “The council regrets the inconvenience caused in those areas. The council wishes to notify citizens that all of its drainage equipment is operable. These include all pumps and sluices in different sections.”
However, he said there are a few fishing boats in the city’s channel outfalls, at River View, Ruimveldt and Cowan Street, Kingston, which are affecting the free and swift flow of water through those waterways.
“Sometime ago, the council wrote the relevant authorities on this issue. It was pointed out, then, that these vessels were restricting the flow of water in the canals and through the channels. To date, that situation has not been resolved,” he said, adding: “Again, the municipality is appealing to the authorities to remove or cause the vessels to be removed. This would assist in the council’s effort to provide for effective and efficient drainage of the city.
King said it should be noted that, in the first quarter of 2011, the council carried out desilting works in the Downer Canal and drains in Lodge, Meadowbrook, Lacytown, Agricola, Newtown, Kitty, Cummings Lodge and Bourda.
He said teams from the City Engineer’s Department continue to work in different communities to clear blockages in drains and ensure the integrity of the Georgetown drainage system.
He continued: “The council is urging citizens to be vigilant, avoid dumping on parapets and report those who are involved in such negative actions against the environment. Also, citizens should ensure that the surface drains in their yards are clear, free and flowing at all times.
“Citizens need to know that some factors, which are affecting effective drainage are the rapid siltation taking place at the mouth of Demerara River, blocking of the outfall cannels. The indiscriminate dumping of waste, by citizens, in our waterways and alley-heads; the increasing phenomenon of squatting in the city and the poor performance of up to 90 per cent of the septic tanks in new Georgetown, these have all contributed to the rapid growth of weeds and are blocking the system.
“It is no secret that the council’s revenue base is too narrow to provide the level of service which the citizens deserve. This has been said as often in previous communication to citizens,” King reminded.