President Ali among people helping, Azruddin spreading disinformation

Very heavy rain again came to Guyana last week and continues this week. The storms also drenched Suriname, French Guiana and Brazil. In each case, severe floods accompanied the storms. The Opposition and their sycophants in Guyana went into a frenzy with their criticism and condemnation of the Government, blaming the Government for the floods. Surely, it was not the PPP Government, not President Irfaan Ali, not VP Bharrat Jagdeo that caused the rain, here or anywhere. Yet, for the Opposition, it was Jagdeo and the PPP who caused the flood. Many citizens expected the Opposition to blame VP Jagdeo for the floods in Brazil and Suriname also. At no time did the Opposition acknowledged that heavy rains were responsible for the flood.
The sluices and the pumps around the country, including in Georgetown, in general, were working. Drainage canals were cleaned prior to the rains. But the system was literally overwhelmed. The truth is that while the system is capable of handling more rainfall over any 24-hour period than it did in 2005, the drainage capacity is still being expanded and improved across the country. It is a work in progress. Building the drainage capacity of the country is not going to be achieved in a short period. In fact, it is unlikely that Guyana can build a capacity that make us 100% flood-free. We can definitely increase the capacity overall, but to think that we can build a system that can handle any amount of rain is utopian thinking.
For example, whereas the system was challenged to deal with 1.5 inches of rainfall over a 24-hour period in Georgetown in 2005, it can now handle about 2.0 inches of rainfall over the corresponding time period. Similar situation exists across the country. With the construction of five more Hope-like canals, some of which have already begun, with improved sluices across the country, and with new and more powerful pumps being installed across the country, additional drainage capacities are being achieved. The bottom line is that continuous investments are being made to improve drainage in Guyana as the country builds its climate change adaptation and mitigation responses.
In the last decade, we see increasing incidence of flooding around the world, despite Governments around the world investing more and more in drainage capacities. The truth is that climate change-related heavy rainfall keep outstripping the improved drainage systems. In fact, 2026, even at this point, has been one of the most devastating years for flooding during the 21st century so far. We see developing countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia experiencing heavy rainfall and flooding this year. Besides Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil and other Latin American countries, flooding has been seen in other developing countries, such as Kenya, Ghana, Indonesia, India, China and many other developing countries.
But developed countries have not been spared. In spite of well-developed drainage systems, during 2026 so far, the UK, Spain, Italy, France, the US and other developed countries have experienced severe flooding because of climate change-linked storms. These storms will continue to become more severe as the climate change consequences worsen.
Whether it is developing countries or developed countries, Jagdeo and the PPP have no responsibility for the storms. When one listens to the Opposition and their sycophants, however, one would think these episodes of heavy rainfall in Guyana and around the world are caused by Jagdeo and the PPP.
It is a legitimate criticism and condemnation if the Opposition blames the Government for poor maintenance of canals, sluices and pumps. While the maintenance continues to be far from perfect, there is no doubt that vast improvements have been achieved. With more pumps being deployed, improved sluices and construction of new canals, vastly-expanded drainage capacity continues to be a priority for the Government. But we must do better in optimally maintaining what we have.
During last week and this week’s flooding, the President and the Cabinet have been out in the communities working with local government and with citizens to help mitigate the situation and help to galvanise rapid responses to dent the impact of the latest flooding episodes. The PPP Governments of the past and this one have always been proactive. They have never abandoned the people. Kudos to the President and the Ministers for being out with the people.
Predictably, the Opposition forces have deemed the efforts of the President and the Cabinet as “photo-opportunity”. They condemned the Government Ministers for being in the communities, insisting that the Government is only out in the communities to score points and not to help people. This is absurd. It is true that the APNU-led Government of the 2015-2020 period was missing in action during flooding crises. But the PPP Governments have consistently been among the people whenever the citizens faced challenges like flooding.
Azruddin Mohamed, surrounded by a few of his doting comrades, did go out in some communities. However, he did not go out to be among the people, he went out to continue his mission of disinformation and outright fabrication and lies and the ultimate photo-opportunity moments. He was seen, for instance, in Plaisance pointing to the pump there and fabricating a story of a non-operational pump. Minutes later, Minister Zulfikar Mustapha went on site to demonstrate that the pump was working and that Azruddin Mohamed was using social media to blatantly and barefacedly lie to citizens.
Ruminations concedes that there continues to exist room for improvement in the drainage system. The planned budgeted projects to add additional capacity in the national system must be completed more rapidly. But the Opposition must demonstrate they can join the Government whenever there are disasters and natural challenges. It is truly despicable for them to be out deliberately spreading disinformation and fabricating stories when citizens are facing challenging times.