Members of the Opposition quizzed government ministers yesterday in Parliament on flooding in the city and other issues.
Leading the charge with the questioning was APNU Member of Parliament Volda Lawrence who asked Minister of Local Govern-ment Ganga Persaud why the city flooded after rains on December 24. She also asked why it was that there was oil in the floodwater in the vicinity of America Street the same day.
The minister said that the rain fell heavily that day and at the same time the pumps in the city were malfunctioning. Further he said that the flooding was compounded by the “washing tide.”
As regards to the black oil in the water, the minister said that he was unaware of that but endeavoured to inquire about it and report back to the House.
Lawrence also asked the minister whether he knows that persons fell into manholes during the flood. He said that he did not hear such reports but that he would seek to find out.
The member also asked about the lack of refuse collection in South Georgetown during the Christmas holidays.
Explaining that Georgetown is divided into 10 garbage collecting sections, the minister said that the sections for which collections were not done were in sections 7 and 8 of the city for which the municipality was responsible.
