Dear Editor,
I am sick and saddened by a proposal which seem to be recommended by the central government and supported by some members of the city council. It is to concrete the walls of certain canals in Georgetown.
The truth is these geniuses, neither understand the drainage system of Georgetown and, if they do, are consumed by the apparent mystic of concrete, and perhaps the need by some folks to sustain the current spending spree, and to hoodwink and deceive unsuspecting citizens.
In the 70s this question was examined and even though, at that time, cement and steel were relatively cheap we came out on the side of regular maintenance and a sense of discipline and responsibility by both residents and the management of the capital city. One contention is that the roadways parallel to these canals now handle much more traffic than they did in the mid 70s, this is true, but first, to take greater and heavier traffic, there is no and I repeat no engineering study that establishes that a concrete wall would be better and more durable over the years. To provide the level of durability would require tons and tons of steel, cement, and skills, since government seems to believe that we have an abundance of cash, we must not ignore the fact that neither cement nor steel are indigenous and produced in Guyana, and therefore a further drain on our foreign exchange. The watch word and the only safe way forward is discipline, respect for the by-laws, and that bad word, that alien concept, “regular maintenance”.
In a city below sea level with a kind of procumbent clay with a low porosity, hence our high-water table, if we concreted the walls of our canals, we have to provide at regular intervals holes or outlets for the accumulated water to be drained into the canal, when the water in the canal is low. The alternative of course is to build the roads that will not allow rainfall to seep into the clays supporting these concrete walls, a monumental, if not futile exercise.
If it is felt that heavy trucks, in particular the single axle trucks, would damage the roads and walls of certain canals, we need to put up solid barriers that will not allow these vehicles to traverse these roads. Nothing new to Guyana nor certain countries around the globe.
I am not an engineer but, apart from my stint as Mayor, and Minister of Works and Hydraulics, I’ve studied new and old Georgetown in depth, against that background I ask; why are we even thinking of embarking on this adventure. The British and Dutch who preceded us knew what they were doing and I urge the Mayor and City Council, and the wise men in the government, on this matter of the drainage of Georgetown and contiguous areas, to rely on the wisdom of our erstwhile masters. I hope the decision makers have the good sense and humility to listen and, instead of this crazy costly concrete crusade, ensure disciple, and a well-prepared regime of maintenance. Mr Mayor, Mr Minister, Mr President let us not damage and dismantle what we have, and what served us admirably for many, many generations.