By Jeff Trotman
Environmental Consultant Samuel Wright feels that enough money has been spent on drainage in Linden over the past ten to fifteen years for the town to have an efficient drainage system but the money has not been spent effectively.
He said one of the main causes of ongoing drainage problems in Central Mackenzie whenever there is heavy rainfall is that the people, who have engaged in planning drainage within the town, have not spent enough time in understanding the natural drainage patterns of the town.
Wright, who was born and bred in Linden before obtaining a Masters Degree in Geological Engineering has served as consultant to a number of hydrological projects, including the sinking of wells in various regions of the country and the current Inter-American Development Bank funded multimillion dollar potable water rehabilitation project in Linden being implemented by the Guyana Water Incorporated.
He said the natural drainage pattern in Linden is based on the creeks. Therefore, the creeks should be cleaned from the mouth going inward because clearing the creeks from inland as is currently done, does not allow for the free flow of water into the Demerara River. He said: “Some of the standards set for clearing the creeks are not based on hydrological flow. [They] just go and clean the creeks, that’s all.”
According to Wright, the main drainage in Central Mackenzie are the Cockatara and Hymara creeks, as well as a small creek that flows behind the Mackenzie High School that drains Retrieve. He also said that there was a creek between the Mackenzie Post Office and the former Blair’s Building and another one that flowed behind Church’s Chicken, which has been blocked