Ersistent flooding City – Mayor
drains are filled, and in some cases are very low or very high. Some are even covered by the residents when the residents concreted their yard. There is a host of challenges, but we can’t sit and allow that so we are trying to bring relief,” she stressed.
She further said that while they would be able to use manpower to help clean and clear the drains and the alleys in Festival City and surrounding areas, they would need an excavator to clear the canal, since manpower would only be able to remove the overgrown vegetation.
Some drains, along with culverts in the community will have to be reconstructed to aid in the free flow of accumulated water.
“I am trying to get other agencies on board because the situation is bigger than us. Culverts are expensive and we may not be able to do that now,” she pointed out, and added, “we need help and we have been engaging in talks with the Ministries of Finance, Public Infrastructure and Communities to see how best we can solve this issue.”
Edinboro, in the letter, explained that “…the water level in the eastern section of E.R. Burrowes Street and Hummingbird Street is notably high. In addition to being very unsightly, the stagnant water is mossy and foul smelling.”
This issue the writer said is hazardous to riders of bicycles and motor cycles since they would skid from time to time and sometimes end up falling in the stagnant water. The writer also lamented that they are being made victims of inflation by the taxi services. “Given the persistent flooded streets, taxi services are known to increase their charges once the name Festival City is mentioned,” the writer outlined.
In the letter writer’s view, the situation at hand has serious potential environmental health and safety implications and can be depressing to residents.
Further, it was noted that residents of the community had dispatched a letter outlining their concerns to the Ministry of the Presidency, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, the Ministry of Communities and the Georgetown City Council, but almost a year later they were yet to receive any response. “The community has an elected representative for the area on the Georgetown City Council but given our feeling of persistent neglect, we are left to wonder what role this individual plays in community affairs,” Edinboro wrote.
As a result, the resident said he has turned to the media to highlight their plight and called for a relief from their “flooding nightmare.”