Dear Editor,
For the last 30 hours the usual weather satellite image progressions of water vapour in the atmosphere that I look at are either blank or stuck at around midnight of May 21. These are on the Guyana Hydrometeorological Service website. So will the Hydromet be able to advise accurately?
The first time this year there was overtopping at the Georgetown seawalls, the Public Works Minister said it was because of an “Atlantic front” that added height to the spring tide. I noted then that the spring tide was past its highest.
The last time it happened there was no more talk of the Atlantic front, but of overtopping because of the build-up of moving erosion along the coastline. This is now a known phenomenon. But it must continue to be studied carefully to know when and where it will manifest itself.
I have a hypothesis that the Atlantic front was caused by a changes in the equinoctial cycle every 110 years. This last happened from 1901 to 1905, with a changeover from 1949 to 1953. It is now happening 2011 to 2015, 2013 being the midpoint, with the next changeover to take place 2059 to 2063. It could even be a cause of hurricane and tornado patterns.
Disasters are usually the sum of many causes, the latest visible one getting most of the blame. Bad garbage disposal practice makes increasing contributions. The blocking of the Lighthouse beam and the removal of the Sparendaam radio tower will make their contributions in due course.
A wise politician will admit his ignorance and have genuine and timely consultations with knowledgeable people who live here and can point to the necessary expertise. When asked for a comment by the press he should refer them to his experts who are open in their deliberations and unmuzzled by ministerial censorship. The politician will be honoured by posterity when he does the right thing now and builds viable and sustainable infrastructure.
Yours faithfully,
Alfred Bhulai
