With more rainfall expected across the country over the coming days, President Dr. Irfaan Ali early Tuesday morning visited several flood-affected communities in Georgetown, where he said additional pumps will arrive in Guyana by the weekend to strengthen drainage efforts.
During a live broadcast while touring affected areas, the Head of State said 217 pumps are currently operational nationwide and are working around the clock in vulnerable communities.
“So, we have about 217 pumps nationally deployed, working almost 24 hours around the clock. And that is in all of the critical areas. On Friday, we have an additional 11 pumps, new pumps that will be in the country to be deployed at other areas,” President Ali said.
Joining the President during the exercise were Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and other government officials. Mustapha noted that despite heavy rainfall, authorities had not yet recorded any severe flooding of homes.
“So far, we haven’t had any major concerns where residents’ houses would have been flooded out, but we are still monitoring that,” the minister said.
He disclosed that Georgetown had received about four and a half inches of rainfall as of 14:00h Monday.
Government has since activated a 24-hour monitoring room involving agencies such as the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), the Guyana Police Force and other joint services to oversee the situation.
The Hydrometeorological Service has warned that rainfall is expected to continue through May 13, with heavier showers forecast for May 14 and 15. Low-lying and poorly-drained communities are considered particularly vulnerable to flooding.
Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six are among the areas identified as being most at risk.
Meanwhile, NDIA Chairman Lionel Wordsworth said drainage works had already intensified ahead of the peak rainfall period, including the clearing of outfall channels and maintenance of sluices across Georgetown and coastal communities.
“In addition to the pumps and sluices that are in place, what’s critical also is that we have started about two weeks ago, into the rainy season, the clearing of the outfall channels in Georgetown,” Wordsworth explained.
He added that excavation works are ongoing at several sluice sites using amphibious excavators to improve drainage flow and maximise the removal of accumulated water.
During the inspection in Queenstown, President Ali also blamed poor maintenance by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council for persistent flooding in some sections of the capital.
“There are a few streets, however, in Georgetown and a few areas that continue to have this challenge that we see here, for example, in Queenstown, where you have some flooded areas,” the President said.
According to him, several drains and alleyways remain clogged with sand, builders’ waste and overgrown vegetation.
“The lack of maintenance from the city, of course, is a major challenge for us,” he said, adding that many drainage systems are only being maintained through interventions by central government.
The President warned that flooding would continue in areas where drains remain neglected, even with pumps in operation.“We can’t rely on the City Council,” President Ali stated. “We have to make these investments.”
