Sections of GT inundated after heavy downpours

– vendors vent frustration at regular occurrence

Heavy rainfall on Thursday has left several sections of Georgetown under water, and this has severely affected businesses, especially those along Regent and Robb Streets.
The heavy downpours saw vendors scrambling to secure their goods from the rising waters. Regent and Robb Streets are bustling hubs of activity, lined with shops, restaurants, and vendors selling everything from clothing to electronics. However, on Thursday the streets resembled a river, as the floodwaters rose to knee-height in some sections, making it nearly impossible for people to move around.
Vendors at the Bourda Market were affected, and many had to frantically move their merchandise to higher ground; but some were unable to do so in time, resulting in significant losses. One vendor who sells shoes and bags told Guyana Times that she has lost a significant portion of her stock. “I’ve been doing this for over 10 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” she said. “I tried my best to move my things, but the water came too quickly. I’ve lost thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise, and I don’t know how I’m going to recover from this.”
Another vendor, who sells fruit and vegetables, was more fortunate. He was able to move his produce to higher ground, but he worries that the flooding would impact his sales in the coming days.
“I’m grateful that I was able to save my goods, but I’m still concerned about the damage that has been done,” he said. “People are going to be hesitant to come out and shop in this weather, so it’s going to be a difficult time for us.”
Magaby Johanza, another vendor in the Bourda Market area, said he has been plying his trade at the market for many years, and the flooding situation has been getting worse. “I’m out here from 1989 to now. We had a big flood in 2005, and since then we continue to get flooding. The stands and everything rotted because of the flood. They came, took our names, and promised us that they will give us money all thing to help with the situation, and up to now…”, he said.
Other areas of the city, including East Ruimveldt and Kitty, have also experienced flooding, with some residents reporting that the water levels were very high. The flooding in Georgetown is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of the city’s drainage system. The authorities at the Mayor and City Council have promised to address the issue, but many residents and vendors are frustrated that the problem persists.
Citing the failure of the City Council, the Central Government has been trying to address the drainage capacity of the city, with Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, and team visiting certain flood-prone areas and making interventions to prevent flooding.
For now, the vendors on Regent and Rob Streets, and other affected areas, will have to pick up the pieces and try to recover from the losses they’ve suffered. They said it is a difficult time for everyone in Georgetown, but they hope that the floodwaters would recede soon, and life can return to normal.