Dear Editor,
Yesterday’s Stabroek News Editorial: ‘A special water main for fighting fires’, is instructive and of a concern to all citizens. Editor, we should appreciate the environment in which we now operate, it suggests that unless a proposal or idea comes from the new anointed group, it is set aside.
Earlier, as a member of the GWI Board, when the water sector was being reorganized at a seminar with the consultants, officials and stakeholders held at Red House, I proposed for the City two separate supply mains, as follows:
One with water that is taken from the wells and our canals, to be piped into hydrants (for fire fighting, cleaning canals and for yard and general use etc)
And that the other supply, be treated and made safe for ordinary domestic use.
I made the point then, that in any event, people were already using bottled water for drinking purposes. I contended it was foolish to treat and sanitize water at great cost for washing cars, watering plants, fires etc, a waste of scarce resources
Mr. Karran Singh in one sentence dismissed my proposals as being stupid and unworkable.
Beyond that, I pleaded with the Minister responsible for water, because the new GWI said it could not afford the cost to rehabilitate and maintain water hydrants, that Central Government set aside a sum and identify the agency to be responsible for this important purpose. These pleadings were ignored.
At several meetings, I made it clear that it could not be the responsibility of the Georgetown municipality. As is well known, shortly after for this and maybe other reasons, the mayor was unceremoniously removed from the GWI Board.
To deal with another issue, I suppose we are waiting for a major traffic tragedy before a suggestion I made on umpteen occasions is accepted, it is that Norton, Bent, Princes and D’urban Streets among others be made into ‘one way’ and that parking be restricted on special days and times to one side of these roads.
Good governance suggests that every idea or proposal should be considered on its merit, irrespective of its proposer
May heaven help us.
Yours faithfully,
Hamilton Green, JP
