More descriptions of blocked canals in Georgetown

Mar 25, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
I refer to my letter of March 24, in your newspaper, captioned, “A description of blocked canals in Georgetown.” Please permit a continuation of my description. Georgetowners should not dismiss North Road and South Road canals. While we are discussing canals, so vital to our drainage system, take a look at low tide of the one on Main/High Street, just in front of City Hall, one will witness the silt reaching up to the edge of the concreted canal.
Princess Street canal at its eastern points is always filled with water, which means that there is blockage toward the Demerara River end. Sussex Street from the top at Mandela to the multi-million dollar drug bond is always full, being that from Saffon Street bridge to the koker, there is blockage. The koker attendant remarked that Sussex Street is a collection of ponds. Figure out that statement.
Any little bit of rainfall and Albouystown is flooded.
Ruimveldt Canal can never be excavated because of the hundreds of squatters who have to eke out an existence on both sides up to Cemetery Road at least, and beyond eastward. That these Guyanese have lived there for several years is a serious embarrassment to successive Central Governments. Has any effort been made to resettle them close to Georgetown? A paper was presented to the President signed by residents of Tiger Bay to re-settle all who live in such conditions on land where they could form a community and be productive citizens. Perhaps we should re-submit the document for all to read.
When officials wring their hands and lament that they cannot excavate this Ruimveldt canal which will lessen the drainage problems of South Georgetown, they abdicate their humanity. For how many more years would these folks have to endure indignity by living in these horrific conditions? There are matters like the congestion of what we refer to as downtown Georgetown, perhaps meaning the Stabroek Market area. All are fighting for this hallowed space, pedestrians, Fire Service, mini-buses, produce and other vendors and others, not to exclude the East Bank Demerara hire cars.
In an article in 1987-01-26, Mayor Robert Williams stated that street vendors on the road leading to the stelling have an unfair advantage over legitimate stall-holders of the market. Since that time more and more vendors have been plying their trades not only on the road to the stelling, all along Water Street the competition for the roadway continues. In 1998, the government of the day invited Trinidad and Tobago Chief Planning Engineer to help with the congestion caused by the mini-buses. He had much to say, all of which were put aside for us to inherit the chaos as at present.
Mayor Green wanted to place the mini-buses on Hadfield Steet. This effort was thwarted through Court action by lawyers operating on Hadfield Street. Justice Persaud threw out the objection citing the ruling of a Mumbai High Court Judge, who said a Municipality has the right to provide services to its citizens without restraint. The matter was taken to Appeals Court, where it may have found permanent residence. At the same Hadfield Street parapets, there is a filling station, now being enlarged, a trade union office, a car sales oultet, a cement block manufacturing and another repairs facility. The congestion of the municipal markets and the spread out of marketing facilities into parts of the City to meet the requirements of its citizens is vitally important. All of South Georgetown has to find transportation to Stabroek or Bourda. The LaPenitence Market is at the extreme end of the population of Albouystown, Charlestown and other nearby areas.
There are other sore issues which need to be addressed, such matters as playfields in communities and so on. When would the remaining lands east of Cuffy Square be prepared for the people of Lodge, as playfields? Editor, we wish to commend those brave persons who came out to condemn the imposition of parking meters without propriety. That Central Government has finally acted on the matter is indication that we the people have scored our proper place in the scheme that Government at all levels must respect our wishes, after all we have the vote in our favour, a situation that those kind persons who availed themselves for the last Georgetown elections seem to be trampling in the dust. Would you say sour grapes/mango?
Hafiz Rahman
Rural People organization

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