-gov’t expands drainage capacity

-by David Clarke

The government is strengthening drainage capacity in the capital city and other vulnerable communities. The local Hydromet office is warning that a third tropical wave is expected to affect Guyana tomorrow, bringing heavier rainfall on Thursday and Friday.

As part of preparations, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha visited Riverview in Georgetown, where a second drainage pump has now been installed.

“The internal drain is clogged up. The city council has not put in any interest to clean these drains, and we’ll have to take it over and look to see what we can do to do the internal cleaning of these drains,” he said.

Two excavators have since been deployed to Riverview to begin clearing clogged internal drains and other blockages affecting water flow. Minister Mustapha says drainage works done by central government over the years have already improved drainage in the city. 

“The work that we have done in and around Georgetown and other parts of the country, we are having less time, the water accumulated for less time here now, and this shows that the work that we have done over time, we are draining the city faster,” the minister said.

Residents in vulnerable and low-lying communities are urged to remain alert as monitoring and emergency response efforts continue nationwide.