When you cut to the chase, it really hasn’t stopped raining for a couple of years, has it? Yet your Eyewitness had learned by rote in Lil ABC: “Guyana has two rainy seasons – May-June and December-January”. But he gotta admit that was MANY moons ago!! And since then, attention has been focused wonderfully on this thing called “Climate Change”. And rainfall in general being part of the “climate”, he isn’t surprised that its become topsy turvy. Not only here, but across the world. Some get more rain – like us and Pakistan – and some get less – like California. On Friday, Georgetown learnt once again what it meant by “raining like a river” as it every street became “Water Street”!! And this after the interventions by Central Government!!
But isn’t this what COPS 1 to 27 were all about – to plan how we’ll be dealing with these changes? So what are we to do about this flooding here –- when we live in a trench with a sea wall on the north and a back dam seven miles to the south? Well, none of this is new, is it? The Dutch, who carved out this coast from the mangrove swamps, understood that living here was always going to be tricky. They’d done this before in their native Holland. And it’s because of their experience, they mandated and built their homes on stilts – and canals be cleared continuously.
Have we forgotten that Georgetown was once all plantations?? But the network of drains and canals, etc, unfortunately, have mostly been filled up!! There’s a reason why the Dutch didn’t build paved walkways apart from Brickdam as they extended Stabroek into a town! But we don’t have to go that far back, do we? How about the “Great Flood” of 2005?? Didn’t we learn anything then? Weren’t their new regulations issued about houses being built at least 4’ ABOVE the ground? About keeping drains free of garbage – especially all those Styrofoam cups and plates? And weren’t the NDCs supposed to be using some of those rates and taxes they collect to keep those drains clean??
But the problem – like everything else in Guyana – is that the moment a crisis is over, we revert to the same ole, same ole! We gripe about politicians not changing, but think about the fact that like with our drains, we don’t clean them out regularly!! But seriously folks, shouldn’t we take some responsibility for taking care of our living space so that we don’t have to be living in flooded filth?? It ain’t healthy! But looking at the immediate future, the City gotta get serious about enforcing the building code and regulations on drainage.
Or move to Silica City!!
…it pours for PNC
It may appear that your Eyewitness is beating up lot on the PNC recently. But it’s called “tough love” folks!! Remember when your mother had to lance that “hard boil” you developed when you were a kid?? Tough love!! Had to be done for your own good!! Look what a mess the LGE Nomination Day exposed within the party. Isn’t there an adult in the room who can put their hand up and say, “Ok fellas…let’s get our act together!!”
How about the Sanctimonious Gangster who’s retreated into petulant seclusion at Pearl?? He’s still the leader of the list of who can remove or add PNC MPs to the National Assembly. Shouldn’t some kind of disciplinary action be taken against all those MPs who sat in their homes when they should’ve been in the streets mobilizing the troops?? Or is he behind their “strike action” against the present PNC leader?? When will this pettiness end??
Will he never forgive Norton for not backing him for the leadership??
…even Uni lecturers’ strike
Universities are our highest centers of learning. So you’d think the lecturers would have some “higher” moral responsibility towards the next generation, no??
But yet, UWI Lecturers are withholding exam papers till they get a raise!! Go figure!!
