Sections of the city flooded after heavy rain

These youngsters were seen pedalling through the flooded Front Road in West Ruimveldt yesterday.

Heavy rainfall flooded several sections of the city yesterday morning and many residents are calling on the Mayor and City Council to engage in a rigorous maintenance progamme to keep drains and canals free of weeds.

Low-lying streets and yards within South Ruimveldt and Festival City North Ruimveldt were waterlogged as a result of poor drainage. Streets in East Ruimveldt and sections of the West Ruimveldt Front Road were also covered by water as a result of overflow from clogged drains.

During a drive around the city, Stabroek News observed that parapets in areas such as Subryanville, and Alexander Village and the pavements of Regent, Bourda, King and Main streets were covered. Persons and vehicles trudging through the floodwater had to ensure they were very careful to avoid stepping into gutters and potholes.

Residents of both North and South Ruimveldt took comfort in the fact that they did not suffer any damage as the water did not enter their homes. The low lying streets, such as Wren Avenue, Penny Lane, High Palm, Blue Mountain Street, ER Burrowes, and Last Entrance were covered with floodwater that ranged between two to four inches high. Sections of Aubrey Barker road, the main access road to North and South Ruimveldt, were also waterlogged.

Residents told Stabroek News that they woke up to overtopping drains and flooded streets. They explained that water accumulated after a heavy downpour, which started at around 4 am.

“In most recent times, at least for this year and late last year, we haven’t seen this kind of flooding. Water would be on the street after some rains yes, but it would go away within hours but it is never this amount of water,” said Irene (only name given), a resident of South Ruimveldt.

Another resident pointed out that he believed the flooding occurred because the streets are low lying and the drains are clogged with weeds. He added that because residents have built up their yards, they have been spared from flooding.

In Festival City, North Ruimveldt, residents complained bitterly about the flooded streets after the rainfall.

“It is years now we have this issue and none of the governments are addressing it. I have been living here for over forty years and this is an issue. The main canal out there needs to be cleaned and to do so they have to move out the squatters from the dam. That is the reason we are being flooded here. If that canal is cleaned, we will have drainage,” Harmon (only name given) stressed.

Another resident, Elton Chase, suggested that authorities clean the canal by using a floating excavator.

“I see they have a floating excavator. Why they can’t have a small one to come and clean this canal? We need the weeds in the trench to be removed because it is the heavy weeds that are preventing the water from flowing off,” he said.

Chase also pointed out that the Mayor and City Council needs to engage in a maintenance plan that will see the drains and canals being cleared at all times.

Chief City Engineer Colvern Venture yesterday explained that all of the drainage and irrigation pumps operated by the Mayor and City Council were operational. He explained that pumps at Kitty and Liliendaal were experiencing some issues that were electrical in nature. The Guyana Power and Light company was contacted and the issues were expected to be resolved. As a result of the issues, Venture stated that they were unable to use the pumps at their full capacity.

The City Engineer added that in Central Georgetown, water receded in a timely manner as the kokers were opened at around 7.30 am and the pumps were working. He went on to explain that in the case where water accumulated, it was because water from the higher areas would have moved to low-lying areas and was unable to drain before the koker doors were closed. He expected a high volume of water to move off from the lands.

When Stabroek News visited several stations, the pumps were all working. Workers said that they had been pumping water since yesterday morning around 10 am after the koker doors were closed.

Venture added that the water that accumulated in East and West Ruimveldt was as a result of the canals needing to be desilted. He said works were undertaken recently and the overgrown weeds in the canals were removed.

In West Ruimveldt, water from the canal overflowed onto the road and into yards. The heads of streets inside of the community were also covered with water as a result of the overflow.

Several streets in Albouystown and the parapets in neighbouring areas were also flooded.