Dear Editor,
Every patriot should compliment and take heed of the Sunday March 4 Stabroek News editorial `Georgetown Flood’.
Allow me to embellish by saying the following:
First, I’ve pleaded for a special municipal court for years. I recall after we stepped up our anti-litter campaign one magistrate said he was not prepared to impose heavy fines on poor people, beyond this, we are faced with a woeful shortage of constables who, when they take defaulters to court must then spend days idle, awaiting the pleasure of our snail like justice system. When the previous Chancellor and Chief Justice were sympathetic I suggested ways to use lay magistrates to dispose of these simple matters. The other proposal was to issue tickets as fines.
Second, I personally pleaded with the past President, Minister of Agriculture and as recent as January 21 this year, with the Prime Minister and new Minister of Agriculture to have the outfall channels off our kokers west of the city desilted regularly.
This is due to the sling mud we believe coming from the Amazon River basin which is deposited every tide along our kokers (or outfall channels or sluices).
This condition restricts the flow of water from the city canals at low tide. Years ago the Government had the dredge “Sir Crawford” used for this purpose and also for clearing of the Demerara River bar. Incidentally, the latter also restrains the flow of water out of the city at low tide.
Later, another dredge the “Steve N” was commissioned – the question: where are they and when last were they used?
Management and staff
Allow me to share but two examples: When I complained about the poor performance of an engineer, the Minister ignored all the evidence presented, but only after the floods of 2005 Government, I suspect, looking for a scapegoat, the Minister took action after his famous words outside of the Church Street koker “he is mine” referring to the engineer.
Recall even after we pressed the Minister of Local Government to mount an enquiry into allegations against a senior officer, the Minister aborted the process, no reason was given.
Finally, a major structure to assist in the draining of Georgetown is the `Downer Canal’.
It begins at Cane View Avenue and runs along the eastern perimeter of the city onto the Lilendaal pump. As a Minister of the Government then, even when the Council enjoyed better economic days, the Government recognized that this canal should be maintained by the State. Here again the PPP/C Government has shown no interest to have this canal re-dug (maintained), a factor to secure the integrity of the drainage system of Georgetown.
May I add this caveat – the Government in its pre-election propaganda blitz gave highly inflated figures of sums spent on works in Georgetown.
Some of the road and other works in Georgetown and Sophia, last a mere few months for reasons which are not obscure.
Every major city in the world requires re-planning and periodic serious rehabilitation. This government in spite of a plan approved by Cabinet in 2001 has refused to expend the kind of money required to ensure that Georgetown can once again be the Garden City and the pride of Guyanese at home and abroad.
Alternatives, to allow the City to broaden its revenue base and to transfer the powers of the Local Government Commission (now with the Minister) so that the Mayor and Councillors can better treat with senior personnel have been stymied.
It is not a shortage of money for government, there is the Lotto Funds which was my idea in the first place, monies from the environmental taxes etc.
The time has come for citizens, the media, civil society, businessmen and the opposition to take on the struggle to restore our Nation’s Capital.
Yours faithfully,
Hamilton Green, J.P.