A 5-year plan for Constituency 14 (Part 2)

Dear Editor,

With the submission of the Dutch Risk Reduction Team’s final report, ‘Analysis of Drainage System in Georgetown, Guyana’ (2016), we seem closer to mitigating floods and their effects from South Ruimveldt since the DRR Team’s work is focused primarily on South Ruimveldt as a catchment area. According to the Team’s final report, “Using the input from the local drainage system analysis, measured geometric data and simplified boundary conditions a full model of the South Ruimveldt catchment was developed. This model can be used to assess and compare the effect of different interventions.”

We intend to continue to engage the inter-agency task force put in place to manage and improve the drainage in Georgetown: comprising City Hall, the Agriculture Ministry, the Public Infrastructure Ministry, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority and the Communities Ministry. We intend to put together, also, a Community Flood Response Team of Volunteers.

Efficient management

of open spaces

Constituency 14 is a beautifully laid out expanse of real estate. Our trees are priceless, knowing that they influence meteorological and climatic effects at all scales of a city, from parks to entire neighbourhoods. Our open, green spaces then become our treasures to our residents, especially our children. We intend to produce a policy that preserves the trees in our Constituency, while encouraging residents to grow more plants, especially vegetables, ensuring that we are the garden of the ‘Garden City’.

These are but some of the broad areas we will be focusing on, as well as continuing the work of our Constituency Manager, Brenda Williams and her team in the area of our remedial learning programme with free meals for students and a feeding program for children in the locality; as well as our empowerment programme with a specific focus on women. As well as capitalising on the ‘Citizen Security Strengthening Programme’ with its skills training aimed at reducing crime and violence among our youth. Additionally, seeking out other opportunities which will benefit our youths.

In the article, “5 Essential Factors for Creating a Framework for Municipal Resiliency”, Cathy Rust notes that the fifth factor is “Tenacity to implement the vision”. Rust states that, “The best way for this to happen smoothly is to create an open dialogue with your stakeholders – business, residents, local institutions, etc. It is through these discussions, workshops, capacity building and constant communication that progress toward a resilient community can be best achieved.”

This is a fact we know first-hand. We will continue to work with all our partners who have been integral to our success over the last 10 months and well as we are eager to bring on board new ones, predominantly those which for the Industrial Site area of Constituency 14, as we advance the development of our Constituency together.

Sincerely,

Councillors

Sherod Duncan and

Noelle Chow-Chee