Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton on Sunday criticized the Mayor and City Council for its negligence, which he said has resulted in the flooding of several areas in South Georgetown.
In an invited comment, he told DPI that the pumps used to drain the water were not activated in time.
“The reports from National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) indicate that many of the pump attendants were asleep this morning when they should have been working the pumps to ensure that water gets out of these areas. We intervened at the level of the Ministry of Agriculture NDIA and installed pumps on Sussex Street and Princes Street to help alleviate this problem. And so, if the City Council was properly supervising the staff, the people should not have been suffering the way they’re suffering right now in this part of town.”
In some areas, roads, bridges, and yards were covered by more than four inches of water. Sussex Street, Albouystown is among the areas gravely affected. Residents complained that the water from the canal overflows and mixes with water from Le Repentir cemetery and seeps into their homes.
Minister Hamilton told residents that the issue will be addressed and assistance will be given to those severely affected.
“I made a request to facilitate some people right now, they’re in need of cleaning materials, and they’re in need of food items, because of this situation that was created by the negligence, I would say, the City Council, not properly, supervising the pumps that we made available to the government, central government,” he said.
A team was also mobilized to clear the canal of vegetation and garbage to ensure the water flows freely.
Minister Hamilton is part of a larger ministerial team spread out across the country to assess and bring relief to persons affected by the floods. President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips have also been visiting several affected communities. (Extracted and modified by the Department of Public Information)
