Floods will always be with us; HydroMet, City Hall failed us – Dr. Luncheon

By Kurt Campbell

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon said the recent flooding in Georgetown and its coastal environs exposes the failure of HydroMet – the Guyana Hydrometeorological Service – and the City Council.

Dr. Luncheon while speaking at his weekly post cabinet media briefing noted that HydroMet failed to warn authorities while the City Council failed to be prepared and respond to the situation.

“For authorities and citizens what matters are warnings, preparedness and responses… in relation to recent incident: HyroMet warnings were not provided in a time manner, it also exposed the APNU led City Council’s failure to be prepared and respond,” the Cabinet Secretary noted.

He added that the now irate Georgetown residents, following the November 26 flashflood should let the City Council report on its preparedness and that of drains, pumps and kokers for rainy seasons in 2013.

According to Dr. Luncheon, the solutions are obvious; recommending that drainage systems needs to be fixed, de-silting must occur and access to canals must be improved, particularly by removing those persons squatting on reserves.

“More pumps, better pumps, bigger pumps are needed to deal with the situation.” This, he believes could serve as a recipe to avoiding a recurrence.

He said what is also needed is a more robust system beyond drainage, pumps and kokers and urge that the parliamentary resolution for the restoration of Georgetown be implemented.

On Wednesday (November 27) heavy downpour of rain resulted in several parts of Georgetown being flooded forcing the closure of schools and businesses.

Several of those businesses still remain closed along with some 15 schools, even as areas inclusive of Charlestown and Albouystown remain under water.