Perhaps, as usual, this is no scientific/political analysis; no academic dissertation; no intellectual discourse. Instead I feel moved, even compelled to expand on a one-line snippet I wrote one or two Fridays past.
It’s a mere yet vitally significant query as to whether Georgetown – indeed Guyana – is ready to confront, manage and/or mitigate a roaring ravaging flood, such as we experienced in January of 2005?
Now read this personal note I share with you for its relevance to today’s brief discussion: On the evening of Monday 26th September just past, my Florida-based daughter booked a NY-Florida-NY flight so that I may visit her. You can guess the rest: she had to evacuate her Fort Myers home with urgency – and some fear. I’ll return to this a little later.
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Is our “Land of Many Waters” ready?
Oh, how we – “authorities” and citizens alike – take vital “things” for granted! Governments are elected to fashion and implement national policies and programmes; then to employ professionals and skilled citizens and others to manage national development. Too often we citizens leave all that to governments alone and exclusively.
Did the PPP government of 2005 which faced the monstrous coastal Great Flood for weeks retain crucial managerial/remedial/pre-emptive strategies to transfer to this current 2022 PPP outfit? Those of us who have remained in Guyana for the past forty years expect Georgetown to be flooded out after heavy rainfall. What a longstanding, disruptive, negative “norm”!
Can’t a government in this 2022 devise pre-emptive solutions? Will “politics” stand in the way? The Ministries of Agriculture, Works, Local Government; the Civil Defence Commission and Drainage and Irrigation Board should meet continuously to sustain national flood prevention and relief strategies for Georgetown and all coastal communities. Is the capital’s City Hall capable of joining such a battle? Besides assurances about pumps could the municipality dare make businesses and vendors clear, really remove clogged drains?
I raise the foregoing to – hopefully – stimulate active emergency strategies to deal with any major watery potential tragedies to come. The Civil Defence Commission must co-ordinate a National Emergency Response Team to give direction to relevant ministries, agencies and Civil Community Action Groups.
Can we do it? We must hope we can! Higher cities are not yet built.
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Fort Myers – personal notes
Earlier this year it was planned that – just before my American visitor’s visa expires – I should visit my third daughter who recently settled in Fort Myers, above Miami, in Florida, USA. I know that many would know how beautiful and welcoming the tropical State of Florida is – sunshine, beaches and people “like us”. Now? Poor Florida.
As stated above, that daughter booked my NY – Florida – NY flight on the Monday, just before the Wednesday when Hurricane Ian left Cuba to devastate Florida. As I write this, it is decided that I should still visit her in Fort Myers (earlier this very week) to experience the aftermath of a monster hurricane. But, more importantly, to give thanks to celebrate mutedly, for her inland home and neighbourhood were actually spared by the devil Ian.
“Devastation; major disaster (declaration); ravaged; historic damage; a monstrous Category 4 storm with 150 mph winds in terrific force gusts”. These were the language usages to assail Florida, South Carolina and the whole of the US over the past eleven (11) days, as with 106 plus deaths and counting and multi-billions in wreckage, Hurricane Ian, one of the worst ever to hit America, ended its devastation; and as alligators and snakes roamed some flooded city streets of the “Sunshine State”.
So Guyanese CDC are we ready? I’m aware that we are no Caribbean island; that we are blessed so far. But remember 2005! Enough pumps working? Helicopters? Electric saws? Ambulances? Generators? Always better to be ready than sorry!
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This on-line, dot.com world
Have a laugh on me, at my expense.
Look I know that my Guyana is keeping apace with all-or-most of- the communication technologies that make for a modern world. As I observe 90% of young Guyanese with their necks and faces bent over cell phones, I realize that the little devices almost control some citizen’s days and daily living. Should I be sorry for myself? That I’m not among the technological savvy? I doubt it. I still “get by”.
I watch my daughters and grand-daughter book aeroplane flights, down to the seat numbers, buy movie tickets to see “Woman King” – seat numbers again, and do every purchase and service request from living room couches. Banking and everything at airports are done at the touch of a button – literally. And even wrist-watches and credit cards. I marvel at this on-line world. It’s challenging for me to speak to an actual person at our US Embassy in Georgetown. But I still want to sit physically in front of a medical doctor or teacher. Poor me.
Meanwhile, my sincere kudos to those other over seventies who are easily comfortable with today’s communication devices. I’m jealous. But lazy.
`Til next week!
