OPINION: GT drainage vision, plan, let it be, let it be

Last Updated on Thursday, 13 November 2025, 20:58 by Writer

By GHK Lall

Guyana’s capital city, the former Garden City, Georgetown, needs a drainage system like the victims of a tsunami need some dry ground. Having had their share of water underfoot across many parts of GT, around the country’s largest hospital, a sound drainage relief system would be more than welcome. It would be the equivalent of a cancer curing drug for residents and visitors to the city. I am one of the former. And, hence, there is keen interest in all that President Irfaan Ali has been saying and putting on the table relative to a modern drainage system for GT. I like it. I support it, look forward to it.

The one concern is that, other than for two, the leaders of the GT municipality were either uninvited to be a part of the vision, or have disinvited themselves from participating in any such action. I wish it were not so, and that a beginning is made in working together, no matter how hard it is to digest (by both sides). I am all for what is constructive to the ambience and welfare of city residents, the city itself, and the image of Guyana’s leading center of commerce, politics, jurisprudence, and many things related to oil.

The president made the rehabilitation of Georgetown one of the highlights of his second inaugural address. Skepticism made me think that it was just another instance where Guyana’s politicians use the moment to pontificate, and then fade away. The history of local political reality forms the basis for such reactions. Nonetheless, it is one reason that it’s always good to never say never, to give oneself that cushion, no matter how bleak the circumstances are.

For here are citizens and city dwellers, almost two months following the president’s September inaugural, and Pres. Ali is following up on his promising words, with a bold rollout of some of what is in mind for drainage of GT. Technology mapping, more pump stations, covered drains, possible commercial parking spaces over those covered drains, improvement works, maintenance works, the whole 19 yards, and then some more. I am for all of those. Rapid assessment and commencement of improvement works are also good to hear. There should be some inconvenience, but I think that it is worth the while. Personally speaking, I am tired of paying to clean the drains nearby, having them degrade to where they were before, and then repeating the cleaning process all over again. The identification is with that fellow from Greek mythology, Sisyphus, who was always rolling a brick uphill, only for it to crash down on his head when he reached the top. As an aside, my rates and taxes bill are always paid in advance with even a portion of 2027 (yes, 2027!) having a credit. But there is the angry reality of having to come out-of-pocket to get the drains cleared so that things move along.

Bad drainage is bad for the respiration. Silt and other stuff pile up, the smells rise up. There is already a struggle with noise pollution in sections of Guyana, so why add to the situation by not addressing water pollution, air pollution, and land pollution? Those are what residents and travelers have had to endure in Georgetown for many years now, with a little respite during the 4-5 years of the PNC reign. Before the last elections, and since then, the PPP Gov’t has made it a practice to weed the grass on a consistent basis. Thanks for the thought. The clearing of the drains is far apart, which aids, but more is needed.

Ever had the good fortune to be around the ‘Big Hospital’ (GT Public Hospital Corp) after a long downpour? Or between Thomas and Camp streets along Middle Street after the heavens unload? Those are just two spaces plumb in the middle of the city (well, not quite) that provide stark testimony of how quickly and unacceptably the drainage conditions of the capital city can deteriorate. The gov’t knows this, and Pres. Ali knows this. Just think of all that produce of the gutter, and whatever else, making their way around the capital, maybe even into the pristine confines of the U.S. Consulate through Guyanese who have business to conduct there. Let’s not forget also those foreign oil folks.

I thank the president for staying close to his commitment. There is great looking forward to observing the development of a sweeping capital city drainage system, and experiencing its comforts firsthand. Imagine the crowns that I would place on Pres. Ali’s head. Good one! Get it done. There, it is done, delivered. May God bless Guyana. Good that he still does so for GT citizens. God Almighty, not Irfaan Ali.