GT to get new pumps as Gov’t takes over main city drainage

Georgetown will get three new pumps being procured by the Ministry of Agriculture to better manage the city’s drainage.

Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder Tuesday announced that the Government had decided to take over management of the City’s main drainage canals and three mobile drainage pumps being procured through  Indian funding will be placed at the Sussex Street, Church Street and Ruimveldt canals to clear the outfall channels.

Holder said Cabinet deliberated on the entire drainage and irrigation situation in Guyana and instructed that a sub-committee of three Ministers be convened to address the issue.

The committee was chaired by Holder and included the Minister of Public Infrastructure and the Minister of Communities.

It was tasked with recommending the best way to manage drainage on the coast.

Cabinet approved the recommendations of the committee, which virtually gave the responsibility of not only declared but undeclared drainage to the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA); this includes the primary drainage in the Georgetown area.

As a result, Holder said all the main canals in the city will come under NDIA from January 1, 2018; City Hall will continue to manage drainage for the city’s internal wards.

Holder said the new arrangement should see tremendous improvement in drainage for Georgetown and the entire coast.

The drainage pumps for Georgetown is part of a larger US$3.6 million project to improve drainage in Georgetown and other areas. Fixed drainage pumps will be placed at Hampton Court and Devonshire Castle on the Essequibo Coast, Den Amstel on the West Coast of Demerara, and Hope, Nootenzuil and Mora Point on the East Coast of Demerara and Rose Hall in Berbice.