Residents of Alexander Village are expected to see improved drainage following the installation of a second pump in the community as the Government moves to address persistent flooding in vulnerable areas across Georgetown.
The additional pump was installed on Tuesday at the River View pump station on the instructions of President Dr Irfaan Ali after severe overnight rainfall left several communities inundated.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, who visited the area Tuesday afternoon, said the President ordered immediate intervention after touring flood-affected communities in Georgetown during the early hours of the morning.
“Last night and this morning, around 1 am this morning, the President, as soon as he landed, he came out, and he asked that we visit Georgetown,” Mustapha said.
According to the Agriculture Minister, the President, along with officials, visited several flood-hit areas including the Liliendaal pump station, Queenstown and Alexander Village to assess the situation.
Mustapha explained that both Alexander Village and Queenstown remain among the most vulnerable communities during periods of heavy rainfall because water accumulates there much faster than in other parts of Georgetown.
“These are very low-lying and vulnerable areas. So these are the areas that accumulate water much faster than any parts of Georgetown,” he stated.
However, the Minister noted that while water in Queenstown was receding rapidly during the inspection, flooding in Alexander Village continued to worsen.
“When we came here, the water was filling up Alexander Village. So the President instructed that we move another pump and bring it here,” Mustapha disclosed.
He said the pump was transported and installed Tuesday and will remain permanently in the community.
“This pump here will remain permanently, as the President instructed. Alexander Village now has two pumps,” Mustapha said.
He added that once the sluice doors are closed, both pumps will become fully operational and are expected to significantly improve drainage in the area.
“As soon as the sluice doors close, both pumps here will be operable… this area here is very vulnerable and it’s prone to flooding, so we are hoping that this will ease the situation a lot,” the Minister stated.
The installation of the new pump increases Georgetown’s operational pumping capacity to 16 pumps, all of which, according to Mustapha, are currently functioning.
“We now have 16 pumps in Georgetown and all 16 pumps are operable,” he said.
The Agriculture Minister also expressed disappointment with the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), accusing the municipality of failing to activate the Cowan Street sluice during Tuesday morning’s low tide despite the heavy rainfall affecting the city.
“I’m very disappointed that this morning, during the low tide, the Cowan Street sluice was not opened by the City Council,” Mustapha said.
“Although we had so much rainfall, they failed to open the kokers,” he added.
Mustapha said Government officials have since been instructed to closely monitor drainage infrastructure and intervene where necessary to ensure systems remain operational.
“When I asked Minister [Deodat] Indar, he must ensure that systems are put in place so that we can look at all the structures. If it’s not operable by the City Council, we have to continue to manage and operate it,” he said.
The Minister noted that by Tuesday afternoon, floodwaters had already receded in several low-lying communities across Georgetown.
“If you go around Alexander Village, Queenstown and other low-lying areas in South Georgetown, almost all the areas now are free. Those areas are dry,” Mustapha stated.
He attributed the quicker drainage to ongoing drainage and irrigation works being undertaken across the country.
“The work that we have done over time, we are draining the city faster and we are having better drainage systems around the country,” he explained.
With the Hydrometeorological Office forecasting additional rainfall later this week, Mustapha said authorities remain on alert and are continuing preparatory works nationwide.
“The Hydromet Office warned that we will have more rainfall closer to the weekend, so we are continuing doing all the preparatory work,” he said.
Mustapha further revealed that Guyana currently has 217 pumps across the country, including several newly-acquired units that can be deployed to flood-prone communities whenever needed.
“Wherever we have those challenges, we deploy the pumps,” the Agriculture Minister said.
