…garbage hinders water running off, schools dismissed early
CANALS overflowed their banks, trees came crashing down, garbage floated in almost all waterways and school children were dismissed from classes early as heavy showers from a dark, overcast sky shrouded the city and its environs yesterday.
The rain which began falling since Monday evening saw several city streets and major thoroughfares under water.
Sheets of water were also evident in several empty lots, while in the commercial areas of Georgetown, vendors and pedestrians sought shelters as they tried desperately not to allow the rain to affect the day’s activities.
The Guyana Chronicle took to the streets yesterday to speak with some of the persons affected by the flooding.
Many felt the improper disposal of garbage aggravated the flooding.
While the inclement weather seemed not to have affected business in the Stabroek, Bourda or East La Penitence markets, vendors claimed that business was much slower than usual.
South Ruimveldt, East La Penitence, West Ruimveldt, Albouystown, Regent Street,  Camp Street, Avenue of the Republic, New Market Street and many areas in Queenstown and Alberttown were flooded.
Several businesses remained open for business while some decided to call it a day with the floodwaters seeping into the stores.
Roadside vendors were forced to pack up and close off sales for the day as the rains continued to pour heavily around the city.
And children could be seen playing in the flooded streets, as the Health Ministry advised that they keep away from the water.
Meanwhile, an official from the Georgetown Mayor and City Council said that the current garbage situation is definitely a major contributing factor to the flooding, as it hinders the run-off of water when it rains heavily.
The ‘Flood Watch’ is on, as government is closely monitoring the persistent heavy rainfall across the country, ensuring that a number of mechanisms and systems it had previously put in place, to minimise the effects of the heavy rainfall, are working.