Dear Editor,
Everywhere due importance is given to the capital of a country. Georgetown, for good or bad reasons, was identified and remains the Capital City of our country. Some generations ago, Georgetown was internationally acclaimed for its beauty and called the Garden City of the Region. The purpose of this letter is not to describe its decline over decades. That’s a matter that will be addressed later.
At one time the excuse offered for failing to maintain the beauty and attractiveness was the lack of money. Today, the availability of money could not be the inhibiting factor. Today, the huge problem and for no good reason is the management of Georgetown and here I add its environs. We have a government that boasts of a return to democracy. It is clear now in Guyana that there exists a thin line separating authentic democracy and demagoguery. They say action speaks louder than words.
I learnt that there was appointed a Ministerial Sub-Committee to deal with, and in essence, to superintend Georgetown. This translates to the total illegal and unconstitutional marginalization by the Central Government that breaches By-Laws governing the City. Un-coordinated works carried out with seemingly inflated contract prices are executed in the City with no reference to the elected Mayor and City Council nor their Officers with the responsibility for works in the City. Officers of Ministries, when asked about works being done are tight-lipped, fearful of losing their jobs if they speak. It is clear we have a Government whose policy is to put on blinkers, ignoring the institutions, agencies and persons responsible for the management of the City.
All the while, Editorials, in the state controlled media showering praises on the President who continues to ignore the Parliamentary Opposition and daily violates the spirit of the Constitution he swore to uphold. A cardinal aspect being inclusionary democracy, and so these silly steps continue unabated. Further afield, instead of dealing with the concerns of Transparency Institute of Guyana, they seek to attack an individual. I refer to the recent statement that states as follows, ‘World Bank funding to reduce flooding in Georgetown will also address critical parts of the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC).” The absurdity of this and waste of money is palpable.
We have many reports dealing with the drainage and integrity of Georgetown and in each case, the PPP administration refused to implement their recommendations. For example, there is the Greater Georgetown Development Plan which dealt with all of the issues to secure the integrity of our City, prepared by Professor Atkbar Khan. We’ve had a report by Sandra Jones Associates dealing mainly with administrative matters. We had the Charles Liburd report dealing with the Engineer’s Department and their management, responsibility – frustrated. We’ve had Freddy Flatt’s report which dealt extensively with correcting drainage in and around Georgetown and the extensive Burrowes’ Report.
I recall for example, seeking funds to secure the reinforcement and digging of the Sussex Street canal, which runs from the conservancy in the east to the Demerara River in the west and similar actions for other drainage canals – all frustrated. There was a water management proposal by a Dutch Engineering Firm. I noticed in the statement released on Thursday that no mention was made for the regular desilting of the Demerara River Bar and the regular clearing of outfall channels vital to secure effective drainage for Georgetown and to deal with the unavoidable accumulation of sling-mud we suspect coming from the mighty Amazon.
It is true that Engineers, such as Steve Narine, Lloyd Alleyne, Phillip Allsopp and others have passed on but we still have the likes of Charlie Sohan, Maurice Veecock, Freddie Flatts and others with all the knowledge that can do the job without new reports, spending millions of dollars and likely awarding contracts for consultancy and construction to friends and favorites. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. All a sincere and sensible Government needs to do is harmonize the knowledge and experience available and get the job done without fear or favour. Today, this is possible with our large sums of money available. If we don’t put an immediate end to this debauchery of democracy, history could not be kind to the President, his Cabinet and his Advisors.
Sincerely,
Hamilton Green
Elder
