By Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News|
Residents and businesses across Georgetown continue to face flooding whenever heavy rainfall affects the capital, raising renewed questions about drainage capacity, public spending, and the effectiveness of recent clean-up exercises.
During his morning FYI podcast, Opposition Member of Parliament Sherod Duncan questioned whether ongoing street works, drainage interventions, and government-led clean-up efforts are delivering real relief for citizens.
Duncan asked whether the widening of several city streets may be reducing the water storage capacity of drains and contributing to faster flooding during periods of heavy rainfall.
He also questioned the level of public resources being used in response to the flooding problem, arguing that taxpayers’ money, along with the time of the army, police, and public servants, must result in measurable improvement for residents.
The MP said he was surprised by the extent of flooding in the capital, given the number of recent cleaning exercises undertaken by the government.
Georgetown experienced significant flooding in March, when approximately 114 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in one day. In April, heavy rainfall again left several areas across the city inundated. This week, flooding occurred for the third consecutive month, affecting residents, businesses, commuters, and public infrastructure.
Duncan noted that following his return from overseas, President Irfaan Ali visited several flood-affected areas in Georgetown during a late-night inspection on Tuesday.
According to Duncan, the President indicated that 15 pumps were in operation to help reduce flooding and announced plans for an inter-agency committee to study the problem in greater depth and identify workable solutions.
However, Duncan questioned whether another committee is what Georgetown needs at this stage, or whether the city requires more immediate and practical drainage solutions.
He argued that blaming City Hall alone does not solve the problem, saying the repeated flooding points to a deeper issue involving planning, drainage capacity, infrastructure management, and value for money.
The MP also raised concerns about national spending, questioning whether the billions being spent on public works and related interventions are producing meaningful results for ordinary citizens.
With local government elections due this year, management of the capital city is expected to remain a major public issue. The Georgetown Mayor and City Council has repeatedly complained of reduced financial resources, while the government has increased its direct involvement in several city works and clean-up initiatives.
In the meantime, residents and businesses remain the most affected, with many continuing to face flooded streets, disrupted travel, property damage, and economic losses whenever heavy rainfall occurs.
The situation has placed renewed attention on the need for long-term drainage planning, clearer institutional responsibility, and solutions that protect citizens from repeated flooding across the capital.
