DESPITE the continued heavy downpour yesterday morning in Georgetown, the city was not seriously affected by flooding and it was business as usual for most persons.
The busy Regent Street was normal with a hub of activities despite heavy rainfall in the morning and some light showers during the day. Compared to some major flooding last Monday, just a few streets were flooded in some commercial and residential areas of the city, including Alberttown, Queenstown, East La Penitence, Ruimveldt, and Wortmanville.

Workers and schoolchildren alike were seen braving the heavy rainfall in the morning, with some making their way through flooded streets to go about their daily activities.
However, 12 schools in Georgetown and one in Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) remained closed yesterday as a result of severe rainfall Tuesday, which caused flooding of their compounds. Those schools were: Tutorial High, East Ruimveldt Secondary, Bishops’ High, Queenstown Secondary, St. Rose’s High, St. Ambrose Primary, St. Gabriel’s Primary, St. Agnes Primary, Comenius Primary, St. Sidwell’s Primary, South Road Nursery, Happy Hearts Nursery; while Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary was closed in Region 3.
In a press release yesterday from the Ministry of Education, it advised that after the recession of flood waters and a series of clean-up exercises, the following schools will be re-opened today: East Ruimveldt Secondary,Tutorial High School,North Georgetown Secondary, Bishops’ High, St Stanislaus College, Comenius Primary, St Gabriel’s Primary, St.Sidwell’s Primary, and Starter’s Nursery.
The Education Ministry said that some schools are not ready to be re-opened today and as a result will remain closed. Those schools are: St. Rose’s High, Queenstown Secondary, St. Ambrose Primary, St Agnes Primary, St Angela’s Primary, South Road Nursery, Sherman Nursery, and Happy Hearts Nursery.
Public Relations Officer of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, Royston King, speaking to the Guyana Chronicle said due to the heavy rainfall and high tide on Monday and also the downpour last night, there has been overtopping in certain parts of the city, particularly in low- lying areas.
He said there has been flooding in places like the Bourda area, and one of the major contributors is the build-up of garbage, and to this end, he emphasised that a strong and solid partnership is needed between the City Council, citizens of Georgetown, and all other stakeholders.
King noted that $1M is spent each day to clean the city but “the problem is keeping the city clean”, and people have to be responsible and refrain from dumping garbage because this causes blockage of the drains and trenches and even has health risks.

He said they have been trying to do their best; and all the sluices in the city are operational, while the pumps are working except for one at JP Santos which is being fixed right away.
Meanwhile on Monday, some residents along Dennis Street to Duncan Street and Sheriff Street to Middleton Street,Campbellville had as much as two feet of water in their homes causing millions of dollars in damage due to the collapse of a culvert between Dennis and Middleton Streets, which prevented the water from flowing into the main drainage canal.
Guyana Chronicle employee Akash Persaud, who lives in Dennis Street, said he had more than eight inches of water in his home.
He said residents were trying to clear the culvert when some Ministry of Public Works officers came to their aid and brought an excavator to remove the damaged culvert, thereby providing some relief to the residents.
A weather brief from the Hydrometeorological Service said that today mostly cloudy skies are expected with occasional light to moderate showers over coastal areas. Other regions can expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with scattered showers and rainfall amounts are likely to be between 20.0 mm and 40.0 mm over coastal areas. The highest is expected over Regions 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam), 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), and 4 (Demerara/Mahaica) while other regions can expect values between 5.0 mm and 15.0 mm.

Tomorrow, it said, will be cloudy to overcast at times with moderate to heavy showers expected over coastal and some near inland locations, while other regions can expect mostly cloudy skies with scattered showers.
Rainfall amounts are likely between 15.0 mm and 35.0 mm over coastal areas with the highest expected over Regions 1 (Barima/Waini) to 4 (Demerara/Mahaica).
Written By Priya Ali