We need to put this question of drainage in the proper context

Apr 25, 2009 Letters

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Dear Editor
The letter written by Charles Sohan titled, “The City needs a plan of action quickly to deal with flooding” is useful, and provides helpful information for, the Council, citizens, the government, the international community and all who are concerned for the welfare of our Capital.
The writer ought to be commended.

However, he is not accurate when he stated that the City has done nothing — a fairer comment may be perhaps not enough, even as I regard the letter as coming from a truly concerned citizen.
We need to put this question of drainage, or some may prefer “flooding” of the City in the proper context by restating the following facts.
First, Georgetown is below sea level, and at high tide is protected from complete inundation by:

1. The sea wall to the North and West by ten (10) kokers [Canal and sluice gates] along the Demerara River which must be closed at high tide twice daily.
Without these in layman’s language, the City is a basin.

2. Earlier, the City did reasonably well by gravity drainage alone.

3. However, we suffered many environmental changes over the last three generations, which led to the need to provide additional support to drain the City. We catered for a smaller and more disciplined population in this main urban centre.
The Mayor and City Council had a larger work force with a committed middle supervisory cadre.
Truly this is the situation generally. We have suffered from a lowering of standards in some areas and what is known as the Peter Principle – promoting people above their maximum level of competence (an excellent sergeant made an Inspector becomes ineffective)
The above were exacerbated by a decision to expand the City limits to take in former villages.

4. Further, for years, we failed [every government before and after Independence] to satisfy the demand for housing, or house lots in the Capital, hence wanton and destructive squatting along our canals with all of the known negatives. Beautiful one and two-family homes were rebuilt to accommodate more families.

5. These factors were made critical because of poor planning. Of course the main bugbear – being a woeful shortage of money. For years we have been starved of this vital resource.
Every thing these days requires money. Even as I write, to desilt drains and remove waste from most areas cost more than all of the taxes collectable. This week we are in Tiger Bay, millions being spent, little taxes collectable from that community.

(b) The Georgetown Development Plan 2001-2010 for the orderly development of Georgetown was prepared by an eminent Town Planner, and accepted by all of the stakeholders but has so far been ignored.
6. Some unfortunate decisions were taken by a previous administration.

One glaring example was how easily, the M&CC was tricked by the Sugar Barons to take over and fill up major waterways, because the Sugar Estates no longer needed them to transport their sugar (in punts) to the river for export — Bulk loading tricks were introduced.
Example: The ‘Punt trench canal’ filled up, is now Independence Boulevard – this was dug in places as deep as 40 feet for obvious reasons, a huge area to hold water from the edge of the City during heavy rainfall.
Merriman’s Mall, John Ford Car Park etc., all former waterways which provide storage during rainfall were all filled up – folly on hindsight – sheer stupidity.

7. Next our laws were not adjusted to prevent persons concreting yards and sealing large areas of the City.
Before this, the rainfall was absorbed easily through the porous clay (mud) in most parts of Georgetown.
Further, earlier, we used vats which collected water from our roofs for domestic purposes. With the introduction of pure water (sic), wastage took place, more water to get off the land.

8. Because of certain global changes before the early 20th century, our outfall channels experienced heavy siltation requiring constant dredging or clearing.
[Millions needed plus the appropriate equipment]. It is believed the sling mud discharge from the mighty Amazon is responsible for this,

9. (a) The condition slows up the flow of water from the city canals, whether by Gravity when kokers are opened, or by pumping.
(b) The Demerara River bar has not been effectively dredged for years.
This provides another restriction of water, escaping into the Atlantic from the City.
This too is critical. But actions were taken from time to time.

10. While holding Ministerial office in 1976, the massive and vital Downer Canal (3-4 miles from Cane View Avenue to the Liliendaal Pump on the East Coast, was dug. This helps to collect and hold water for dispatch to the Atlantic etc.
The Downer canal needs to be reconditioned. This remains our responsibility, but is a massive costly undertaking. Last week, the Hon. Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture promised to assist.

11. At Kitty and Liliendaal, some have argued for diesel operated pumps. However if we wish to stay with electrically driven pumps, the GPL must provide at least an alternative link to the pumps so that when one ‘line’ goes, there is an alternative source of power.

12. The City of course is exceedingly thankful for the government’s assistance to rehabilitate the two pumps at Liliendaal and replace the ones at Kitty.

13. Sometime ago we raised the question seeking to find a way to reduce the use of plastic and styrofoam containers, also, to restrict the importation of second hand tyres, all of which in one way or the other compromise our drainage system, or to help deal with this assault on the City. We asked to be given some portion of the environmental tax. The rest is history.
To keep the City well drained during heavy rainfall is a complex costly exercise.
Hamilton Green, J.P., Mayor

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