During city walkabout, mayor says … ‘We cannot afford regime of lawlessness to continue’ – it’s inconsistent with efforts to restore Georgetown
IN light of the torrential rains which submerged sections of the city of Georgetown, Mayor Hamilton Green during a walkabout of the city yesterday, was keen to note that while efforts are being made to restore the Garden City, lawlessness that are inconsistent with these efforts will not be condoned. Following a late start, the Mayor and a delegation from City Hall, including representatives from the Constabulary, Solid Waste Department and Engineer’s Department, made their way around the city to various locations where several concerns were raised by members of the public.
The intended purpose of the visit was to examine the number of complaints that have been directed to City Hall over the last few weeks. This was according to Green, who further explained that since there had been a change in Government, people expect positive action to be taken by City Hall. As such, to highlight these improprieties which he said must be addressed, the administrative staff were taken into the field.
With this method being adopted, a stern Green added that after this visit, he will not be in receipt of any “facile excuse” from any of the staff who are expected to act on these pending issues.
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES
With most of the complaints being directed to the Engineer’s Department in particular, the mayor disclosed that the department had advised him that they attempted to break down “illegal structures,” but were met with resistance from both the person doing the construction and residents in the contiguous areas.
One area which bore testimony to this was First Street, Alexander Village. At this location, a visit yesterday revealed that a house had been illegally erected at a site which was once an open plot of land.
Though the person living there had not been present at the time of the visit, City Engineer, Culvern Venture revealed that the house had been an illegal establishment, which was made known to the person who currently resides there. He noted that although a warning had been issued to the man, he continued erecting the structure and ignored those warnings.
But according to Venture, the Engineer’s department’s hands are tied as the matter is currently before the court. However, he noted that if a decision is taken by Council to have the house demolished, it is legal for his department to so do.
Another location with a similar situation was Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt. At this point, there had been a mobile fast food outlet with dwelling quarters built just behind it. This too, Venture said, is an illegal structure and needed urgent attention.
Additionally, it had been reported to the mayor, that sidewalks had been built where they should not have been and cases where concrete structures were built over canals which compromised the drainage system.
According to Green, these were issues which were of high priority for City Hall, in their aim to further enhance the development of Georgetown. He noted that these are the issues which need to be tackled and given that the Council will be working in collaboration with the Government, it is their belief that they can restore the Garden City.
“We cannot afford a regime of lawlessness that is inconsistent with our efforts to restore Georgetown,” Green said, underscoring the need for the public to cooperate in this national effort.
FLOODING
As it relates to the recent flooding which was experienced just yesterday, the mayor weighed in, offering that the city was designed to drain two and a half inches (2 ½] of rainfall in 24 hours. However, based on the existing conditions around the city, including the illegal dumping of garbage and other issues resulting in clogged drains, only 1.5” of rainfall could be drained within 24 hours.
The flooding in Georgetown however, had resulted due to this, and the fact that rainfall had been measured at 8.260”, which was more than three times what the city was designed to drain.
Highlighting that 2-3ft of President David Granger’s house had been submerged in floodwater yesterday, Green stressed that works are currently ongoing to aid in reduction of the water.
He highlighted, too, that both pumps at Kitty and Liliendaal had been functional and were “working around the clock.”
According to Green, at Kitty, there was only one of the two pumps working, because the sump hadn’t enough water to accommodate both pumps. At Liliendaal, however, contrary to reports, both pumps have been working around the clock.
The mayor revealed that there had been a report that the pumps weren’t functional, but it was later realised that the person who made the report had merely paid a “side visit”, and remained on the public road.
This was confirmed by a visit made by the Mayor and a Councilor, Jordan, who both visited the pump and enquired of the operator, who produced his log book, which indicated that both pumps had been working around the clock.
Working in tandem too, around the city, are excavators, even while the council is lobbying for additional trucks to assist in this regard. One key aspect of success though, as was noted by Green, was the need to recruit more persons which he said will require more finances.
JUNKIES
While these efforts are being made, the knowledgeable mayor related that it would be meaningless if positive exertions are made at the level of Government, municipality and the business community and there remain a few “miscreants” who frustrate and attenuate the positive efforts being made.
An earlier trip to the Guyana Society for the Blind had facilitated revelations by citizens who were affected by the pile-up of garbage, the burning of copper, and defecation which created an unsightly and unhealthy condition.
As a result of this, Green told reporters, “One of the things I have proposed to the appropriate minister is that we deal with those groups of citizens we refer to as junkies.”
He continued that, “They are creating havoc; they remove the garbage and waste from one place and dump it anywhere including parapets, yards of people and canals.
“My view and with the support of the administrative staff, is that we cannot be doing what we are attempting to do in good faith and allow a group of people, whether mentally challenged or not, creating trouble. It is my view that they should be called in, placed in the appropriate institutions and given medical attention so they are not allowed to come out back on the streets and trouble the work we are seeking to do.”
Remaining hopeful, the mayor posited that the ongoing restoration process, which commenced just a few months ago, will, within a year or two, return a city which had been dealing with “20- odd years of destruction” to its original state. “I believe that in a few months or years, when we create conditions which are ideal, even when we get this unusual rainfall, the water should move within a few hours and that is our hope and dream,” he said.
However, the biggest challenges being faced by City Hall right now is that of financial resources, the appropriate personnel, machinery and the ability to persuade citizens that they need to cooperate in this grand crusade.
MASSIVE CLEAN-UP
Meanwhile, a statement from the City Council revealed that the Local Government body will be collaborating with Ministry of Infrastructure to carry-out a “massive enhancement exercise” tomorrow from 07:00hrs. The area earmarked for special works is Princess Street, from Cemetery Road to St. Stephen’s Street.
Also, it is expected that extensive desilting works would be done on the Sussex Street canal. Against this proposed plan-of-action, the Council is therefore seeking the assistance of residents within the area in clearing the parapet of all derelict vehicles, horse-drawn carts and any other such objects that would impede progress of works to be done there.
By Ravin Singh
