Gov’t approves $150M for urgent drainage and irrigation rehab works

-ahead of May/June rains

Cabinet has given its ‘no-objection’ to $150M in rehabilitative works for the drainage and irrigation systems in priority areas of Georgetown ahead of the May/June rains.

At a post-cabinet press briefing last Thursday, State Minister Joseph Harmon said that the works are expected to be undertaken immediately.

They would include the “de-silting of the Sussex Street drain, de-silting of the drains and culverts along the Railway Embankment from Sheriff Street on the west to the pump station on the east, the clearing of six culverts that connect the North Ruimveldt and South Ruimveldt drainage systems, the clearing of the siphons and attendant drains in the Plum Park Sophia area, repairs to the Meadow Bank sluice and clearing of the Meadow Brook channel inlet, repairs to sluices at Agricola, Rome and Lamaha Street and clearing of the inlet channels (and) clearing Newtown area.”

A technical team of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) highlighted the areas as key locations for rehabilitation and Harmon noted that it would allow floodwaters to recede more efficiently.

Minister Harmon told the media that a task force was established during a Cabinet meeting in January to oversee the rehabilitation of the drainage systems in the capital. of drains in the

He said too that this is the first in a series of actions taken by task force that was set up to “execute plans in the short, medium and long-term to prevent flooding of the city in times of heavy rainfall in the future.”

The task force comprises representatives of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the NDIA.