By Suraj Narine
Georgetown and coastal areas were lashed by the heaviest rainfall in decades yesterday, shuttering businesses and schools, while leaving officials scrambling to take remedial action.
Rain began to fall at around 11pm on Wednesday and continued to fall during the night leading into yesterday, when the capital and several areas along the coastland region experienced massive flooding due to the excessive rainfall.
Public Works Minister Robeson Benn yesterday disclosed that based on reports from the Hydrometeorological Office, some 186.0 mm (7.32 inches) of rainfall occurred over a 24-hour period, exceeding the 166.1 mm (6.53 inches) of rainfall that contributed to the Great Flood of 2005. This, he pointed out, was the highest rainfall that Georgetown has experienced in decades. However, he warned that with an expected 0.0 to 45.0mm of rainfall today and 0.0 to 30.0 mm on Saturday yet to occur, this could change.
When Local Govern-ment Minister Norman Whittaker was asked why there wasn’t a warning from the Hydrometeoro-logical Office about severe weather approaching, he replied that the Ministry of Agriculture needed to be consulted. Efforts to get a comment from the Agriculture Ministry yesterday were unsuccessful. The ministry later yesterday issued several advisories
Benn also said that the drainage system along the coastline was designed for an inch and a half drawdown for rainfall in any 24 hours, so there will be water on the ground for the next two to three days, depending on the weather.
In addition, several parts along the coastland also recorded their highest rainfall ever, with Strathavon in Region 4 recording 244.0 mm and Helena No.2 some 202.4mm.
At a news conference, Whittaker said that he along with Minister Benn visited several sluices in the city to determine whether they are functioning properly and to see what more is needed to ensure that the water recedes.
Whitaker also explained that the national $500M clean-up campaign is still ongoing and there are still difficulties getting to choked areas. He also pointed out that areas that were already cleaned have been polluted again. He emphasised that this has also contributed to the blockages.
Works Ministry technical advisor Walter Willis stated there are 11 sluices to drain the city, including Kingston, Guyana Timbers, Lamaha Street, Muneshwer, John Fernandes, Princes Street, Sussex Street, Ruimveldt, River View and two sluices at Meadowbank.
Willis also informed that there are pumps in place at the some of the sluices although not all the pumps were working. He said too that cuts were made along the Lamaha reserve to drain water into the Cummings Canal.
Meanwhile, National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Chief Executive Officer Lionel Wordsworth pointed out that dredging has been ongoing in regions 2 and 3. He also stated that the NDIA has awarded four contracts for the dredging of the outfall at Black Bush Polder in Region 6 and is also undertaking a 24-hour monitoring of sluices and sea defences along the coastland.
Following the heavy rainfall, some sections of Region Three were under water although not as alarmingly as in Georgetown and surrounding communities.
The areas mostly affected were Canal No 1 and 2 polders, Belle Vue Housing Scheme, Good Fortuin and Crane Housing Scheme. These include both residential and farming areas.
Regional Chairman, Julius Faerber said the water has receded to some extent and assured this newspaper that the situation was being monitored.
When Stabroek News visited affected areas on the East Coast of Demerara yesterday, persons attached to the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) were seen monitoring the Liliendaal pumps, while persons from Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) were monitoring the Montrose pump. Garbage blocking pump grills was also being cleared.
There were cries from farmers along the railway embankment who complained about hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage in crops.
In an advisory issued yesterday, the Hydrometeorological office stated that on Sunday mainly overcast skies can be expected throughout northern Guyana, with intermittent rain and scattered to occasional thundershowers. “Rainfall intensities are likely to be moderate to heavy and accompanied by gusty winds. Southern Guyana can expect partly cloudy and sunny skies. Rainfall is expected between 0.0 mm to 60.0 mm. Highest rainfall is expected in areas of Regions 1 to 3,” it added.
It also warned of above normal high tides until next Thursday and advised residents of coastal, low lying and riverine areas to take the necessary precautions.
