Citizens of Georgetown in Guyana woke up on Thursday to rising flood waters all across the city and the Hydromet Office is predicting more heavy rainfall for the rest of Thursday.

Overnight heavy showers pounded the Guyana coastland and the city bringing rising flood waters with it. The Ministry of Education quickly announced the closure of all schools in the City and other parts of Region 4 as well as in Regions 2 and 3.

Many school yards were flooded and were overtaken with clumps of floating garbage. In downtown Georgetown in the main business district, businessmen were forced to count their losses and leave their buildings closed. On Regent Street, the flood waters began rising just after 4:30 am and continued  for the morning. Some businessmen complained loudly about the state of drainage in the city. 

One businessman complained that although he paid taxes, he is yet to benefit from a proper and functioning drainage system.

“Every bloody time this rain fall, is flood in this area and we are fed up. This government collects your taxes in all types of ways but never provide a proper service. How often will we continue  like this. We are just tired and fed up and I have lost a lot but many others have lost more”, the businessman said as he attempted to get the flood water out of his store.

Robb Street Georgetown businesses were also forced to close their doors for most of the morning as they got into full clean up mode. Many business owners were seen adding sand bags to their entrances as they expected more flood waters. Some gas stations were forced to put a halt to their operations as the flood waters moved into their compounds.

Several communities along the East Bank of Demerara and the East Coast of Demerara also found themselves under water.

In the housing schemes and residential areas, homeowners who live in bottom flats were left counting their losses.

Streets  in North and South Ruimveldt appeared more like small creeks. Young men were spotted using old refrigerators to ferry persons out of the flooded streets.

Some persons are already comparing the flood to the 2005 floods which lasted for days.

Earlier this year the government got approval from the National Assembly for $1 Billion as part of a Clean up my country campaign.

Half of that money was set aside to clean up the drains and the garbage filled areas of Georgetown.

20th November 2014

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