-as residents demand action on Georgetown flooding

-NaAsia Bristol

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha is sounding the alarm over worsening flooding in Georgetown, challenging the Mayor and City Council to take greater responsibility for the city’s drainage systems and garbage management, warning that inaction is putting residents at risk.

During an inspection of the Liliendaal pump station, on Sunday, Minister Mustapha highlighted that, despite government investment in drainage and irrigation infrastructure, the indiscriminate dumping of garbage into trenches and canals continues to undermine the system’s effectiveness and contributes to flooding in several communities. He criticised the Mayor and City Council, citing inadequate garbage collection as a major factor worsening the situation.

“This is a ton of garbage that we’re talking about, this is where we are seeing the problem with the city council, they are not maintaining the city internal drainage system, they are not maintaining the garbage collection, all this central government and NDIA with the Ministry of Agriculture has to do to ensure that we get proper drainage,” he said.

The Minister called on the city Council to stop playing politics with people’s lives and move swiftly to maintain vital drainage infrastructure. Residents say while government intervention has brought some relief, lasting solutions will depend on proper maintenance of drains and responsible garbage disposal.