The Ministry of Agriculture and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) are working tirelessly to, as much as possible, avoid flooding in Georgetown.
Speaking to Guyana Standard earlier today, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha said a multipronged strategy has been adopted.
Mustapha told this publication, “The rainy season is here and we cannot depend on those people over at City Hall to carry out their responsibilities so we adopted a strategy to will serve us properly.”
The minister said that four engineers attached to his ministry have been assigned to monitor Georgetown. “Those men will continuously monitor pumps and sluices in the city. They (the engineers) will ensure that all pumps and sluices are operable and are properly manned.”
Mustapha stressed that preparation for the rainy season did not start yesterday. He said that the silting of canals has been done on a continuous basis for some time now. Even the drainage systems in communities are being monitored and works effected where needed. The minister explained that it is necessary to make sure the community systems are working otherwise water cannot be drained from there to end up in the main trenches and canals.
“So, we are working at every level to make sure the people do not have to suffer. We are looking at the community systems, the pumps, sluices, canals, everything and I have made sure we put capable engineers in charge to overlook the maintenance of the things we have put in place,” said Mustapha.
The minister warned however that the best of efforts can be undermined by the effects of climate change. He added, “There will be times when heavy rainfall is accompanied by high tide.”
