Dear Editor,
Thank you for your editorial on ‘Flooding and incompetence‘ (February 13) reminding us of the many serious drainage problems that the government has failed to solve. I continue to be firmly of the opinion that the neglect of sufficient maintenance of the East Demerara Water Conservancy for over 30 years is the greatest cause of flooding on the East Coast Demerara. It is also elementary that rivers must be dredged to facilitate flow to the ocean.
About a year ago the CEO of the NDIA said that a US$2.7 million consultancy contract was inked to “see a study and assessment on the EDWC being undertaken in a comprehensive way.” I would like to know what they did with that money and the outcome of the “study,” and, although they already possessed an operating manual, what “better understanding of how the conservancy operates” was accomplished. I don’t want to hear that there is a new CEO and a new minister and a new president; it is the same government pledging to continue their “successful” policies.
Yours faithfully,
Alfred Bhulai