Several communities in and around Georgetown are benefitting from improved drainage. Community Coordinator of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Neilson McKenzie, said that the Ministry has been working with the respective Neighborhood Democratic Councils to support their desilting and cleanup initiatives in flood-prone communities.
McKenzie cited the example of work done to the Albouystown canal to allow for the canal to retain more water during high tide and to have improved runoff when sluices are opened.
“In Albouystown we know we had some issue with high tide which caused some degree of flooding but you would notice that the speed of run off was amazingly more sustained and better managed than ever before,” McKenzie said.
The Community Coordinator explained that although there was up to two feet of flood water in some areas, the water levels receded quickly once the kokers and pumps servicing those communities were fully operational.
“That is a testimony to the excellent work done not only by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, but we have to compliment the residents and supervisory staff. The residents did a remarkably wonderful job, (and it) is something we want to replicate across the country where possible.”
“We had done the entire Albouystown block from Callender Street to Saffon Street last year using 100 percent personnel from the Albouystown. In South Ruimveldt, work that we did last year we (also) had 100 percent of North Ruimveldt residents and members of that community participating. In the South Ruimveldt we had about 60 percent from that area because that was an expanded exercise.”
For a long time prior to the clean-up exercise, there had been a massive buildup of silt and vegetation in the drainage canals. These exercises which began last year and concluded in the first week of 2018 were geared at alleviating some of those difficult drainage issues that affected residents of the communities.
The Ministry is planning to implement similar exercises in West Ruimveldt and Charlestown.
DPI Report.
