-Georgetown Mayor says in response to flooding concerns

MAYOR of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine, has said that a collaborative approach and revision of Guyana’s aged pump system is needed to alleviate flooding in the capital city.
This was among the comments made by Mayor Narine during a press conference held at City Hall’s council chambers, on Friday.
His comments came one day after a meeting between officials of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and the Ministers of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, Local Government, Anand Persaud, and Public Works, Deodat Indar. During the meeting, the government ministers said the recent flash floods in the capital city raised concerns and as such, the City Council should and can do more to minimise floods. The ministers argued that the amount of rainfall experienced should not have affected the city to the extent that it did and informed the city officials that the government would assume active monitoring of the operations of the city’s drainage pumps and sluices.
During the discourse, they recommended that disciplinary action be taken against those found neglecting their responsibilities as it relates to effectively managing the city’s drainage structures.

Mayor Narine during his press conference said according to the Sea Defence Act, the City Council is responsible for the managing of the drainage system in the capital city but collaborative efforts are still needed between the government and municipal authority to address the issue of flooding. “I will not allow the government to take over any pump or kokers. It is within the laws that the local authorities must manage these pumps and we are doing so,” the City Mayor said. He further highlighted that the capital city lies below the sea level and the effects of climate change along with above-normal rainfall will see the city’s archaic infrastructure being comprised by floods. “Flooding in the city isn’t something that is occurring now; it is a decade [old] problem,” he emphasised before adding: “We are below sea level, why are we getting away from climate change and everyday according to studies that have been done, the city is sinking.” He stressed that only a collaborative approach will ensure that citizens are safe and damage and inconveniences are reduced during an instance of flooding.
He also noted that a revision of the country’s drainage system is needed.

“That is why as mayor, many times I say let us sit and restructure our drainage systems, we have a good drainage system inside the Caribbean but we need to review it.”
Mayor Narine added that the M&CC requires over a billion dollars annually to clear and maintain the drainage canals and kokers, and over $500M to maintain the pumps.
The municipality, it was revealed, collects just over $700M annually in taxes of which $264M are required to dispose of residential and commercial solid waste.
The mayor further disclosed that during the May/June rainy season, the M&CC has been tapping into emergency allocations to limit the inconveniences of flooding across the city.
Narine added that during these times of disaster, the “blame game” should not be played.
“I will continue to appeal to the government. Let us work together, let us put aside political differences and work for the interest of the people,” he said.