President visits areas affected by heavy rainfall –says City Hall doing nothing- Gov’t will have to look at drainage

Georgetown, GINA, December 14, 2013

President Donald Ramotar accompanied by Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, this afternoon  visited several  areas under water including, Durban Street, Albouystown, South and North Georgetown, and along Sussex Street where he assessed the situation in those areas affected by consistent heavy rainfall today.

Speaking to the Government Information Agency (GINA) at the Sussex Street koker, President Ramotar said that a lot of the problems are related to drainage, and Government will have to look into that.

President Donald Ramotar, accompanied by Public Works Minister Robeson Benn visits South Ruimveldt

President Ramotar highlighted that the Ministry of Public Works has been working vigorously to clear the drainage canals and ensure that there is a smooth flow of water, and at the same time, bring relief for the residents in the different areas.

 

During the inspection it was observed that Albouystown was most affected. “The City Council which has more than 900 workers and spend more than $80M a month to pay salaries, I don’t know what they are doing…the Government is ready and willing to assist, but the City Council is not doing anything at all in these areas,” the Head of State pointed out.

President Donald Ramotar accompanied by Public Works Minister Robeson Benn, checks out the situation in Albouystown

There were about two to four inches of rainfall, Minister Benn disclosed, and that the ministry has four teams working in specific areas in an effort to alleviate the flooding.

He said that the ministry will keep on monitoring the situation and continue its works; however it will have to map out a programme for the next four to five years to moderate the situation over that period of.

 

“We will have to look at the designs with the City and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority and come up with a plan to re-establish kokers and pump stations, and put a programme in place to improve the secondary and tertiary drainage in the communities,” Minister Benn explained.

Koker attendant at the Sussex street canal meets President Donald Ramotar, prior to the opening up of the koker

The ministry’s interventions will cost over $40M to clean of outfalls, in Albouystown, South Georgetown and other areas, and removal of garbage.

 

The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development has also been playing a major role and assisting, especially in the area of solid waste disposal.