KINGSTON - The first phase of the rehabilitation of the Georgetown drainage system has concluded, with 45% of the main drains cleared and a combined expenditure of more than $195 million.
However, according to a release from the Government Information Agency (GINA), Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Walter Willis noted, that one of the major challenges was the occupation of the reserves. “The reserves are occupied in various ways, with derelict vehicles, vending and people living on the reserves. This matter has been raised with the minister and his colleagues and we are looking to address it sometime in 2016,” he stated.
The work, which started almost immediately after the coalition government came into office was undertaken to bring relief to the many citizens who were affected by floods resulting from the 2015 May/June rains which saw several areas in Georgetown and its environs being inundated for almost three days.
On Friday the stakeholders inclusive of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), Georgetown Chamber of Commerce (GCCI), the Ministry of Communities, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) met for an update.
According to the GINA release, the meeting which was held in the boardroom of the ministry was convened by Willis, who explained to those gathered that it was the desire of Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson “to engage the stakeholders, update them the status of the works and ask for their support for phase two of the exercise.”
Willis recalled that at the onset, Patterson had summoned a meeting where a taskforce was set up to immediately start emergency works. The taskforce was mandated to look carefully at the drainage system and to identify the critical areas for rehabilitation.
The examination, he said, “showed the extent to which the system has and had deteriorated over the years in the length of time it took for us to drain the water off the land… It took three days and, even after that there were still some isolated areas that suffered longer period of inundation.”
In June, Patterson had explained that Cabinet had approved $75 million to be used immediately to clear the four major outbound channels at Kingston, Lamaha Street, Sussex Street and Meadowbank.
This sum, Willis explained, was used for the awarding of 11 contracts of which, nine have been completed, one suspended and one is ongoing.
“The Meadow Bank sluice that is owned and operated by Vieira, we had to suspend the desilting of that outfall channel due to the collapsing of an old revetment. If we had continued, the revetment would have collapsed and the high tide would have flooded Meadow Bank,” GINA quoted Willis as saying.
The release further stated that of the 79 kilometres of main drains leading from Cummings Lodge to Agricola, 33.2 kilometres were desilted. These drains lead to 13 sluices that drain the city. Most of the work was done using NDIA equipment through a collaborative effort.
In his remarks, City Engineer Colvern Venture stated that the M&CC will continue to work with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and other stakeholders to restore Georgetown to its former glory.
The release said Venture reported that in excess of $120 million had been expended by the city administration on the clearing of drains, sluices, canals and alleyways in the city particularly in the Bourda/Lacytown area. Eighty percent of these works have so far been completed with major works currently ongoing on the Church Street canal as well as on the Avenue of the Republic canal.
The city is also engaged in other works costing an additional $1.5 million in East and West Ruimveldt, Georgetown. The M&CC has through these works also managed to provide work for several residents of these communities as well as several other communities in Georgetown.
The release further stated that Community Liaison Officer on social and other issues at the Public Infrastructure Ministry Neilson Mc Kenzie said that several projects are also being undertaken in 12 other communities within Georgetown. These communities include South, North and East Ruimveldt, Sophia, Albouystown and Cummings Lodge. These projects, McKenzie said, includes addressing the relocation of persons from the reserve to facilitate clearing the drains within those areas.
Patterson in remarks to the meeting, reportedly explained that a substantial amount of work remains to be done and it is in this regard the private sector and other stakeholders are being asked to join the effort.
“Patterson lauded the initiative of the residents of Subryanville, Georgetown, where they raised approximately $1.5 million among themselves to assist in the restoration effort. He is urging other communities and residents to follow suit,” the release said.
The minister further proposed that a formal presentation be held with the private sector bodies and all other stakeholders to specifically identify the need for the successful completion of the project.
“The minister assured the meeting that his ministry would ensure the presentation is done as there is a great urgency to complete the desilting and clearing process,” GINA said.
At the launch of the task force in June, Patterson had explained that the efforts were not intended to be “a solution to our drainage problem [rather it was] an attempt… to ensure that should there be another period of high rainfall that the time taken to reduce the flooding or get the water out of the city will be reduced.”
