Second pump added to Alexander Village to boost G/town drainage system

Residents of Alexander Village are expected to benefit from improved drainage with the installation of a second pump in the community.

The pump was installed based on instructions from President Irfaan Ali amid ongoing flooding concerns in low-lying areas of Georgetown.

During a visit to the River View pump station on Tuesday afternoon, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha said Alexander Village and Queenstown remain among the most vulnerable communities during heavy rainfall because water accumulates there “much faster” than in other parts of the city.

However, he noted that unlike Queenstown, water in Alexander Village was slow to recede on Tuesday morning when President Ali and a team toured the area.

“In Alexander Village, this morning when the President and the team visited, the water was building up.

 “So the President instructed that we move another pump and bring it here and…the pump is here, it’s operable, the sluice door is open now. As soon as the sluice door close both pumps here will be operable,” Mustapha said.

According to Mustapha, the new pump will remain in the community, bringing the total number of pumps in Alexander Village to two.

“This area here is very vulnerable and is prone to flooding so we are hoping that this would ease the situation a lot,” he said.

The additional pump increases Georgetown’s total pumping capacity to 16 pumps, all of which are currently functioning.

According to Mustapha, several low-lying communities in and around Georgetown that experienced flooding earlier in the day had already seen significant improvements by Tuesday afternoon.

“Around low-lying areas in Georgetown almost all the areas now are clear. Those areas are dry and I am hoping that the pumping capacity in Georgetown will increase because we are looking now to beef up other areas,” he said.

The Agriculture Minister also disclosed that authorities are looking to strengthen pumping operations at Cowan Street, noting that the pump there was not activated by the Mayor and City Council despite flooding on Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, with more rainfall expected later this week, Mustapha said the government is continuing preparedness efforts nationwide.

“When we look around the country the rain has eased off but also the Hydromet Office warned that we will have more rainfall closer to the weekend so we are continuing doing all the preparatory work,” he explained.

He added that drainage systems across Georgetown and other regions have improved significantly due to ongoing interventions.

“Because of the work done water accumulated in these areas are now for less time. We are draining the city faster and we are having better drainage system around the country,” Mustapha said.

Mustapha further revealed that Guyana now has 217 pumps across the country, with additional units recently acquired to be deployed wherever flooding challenges arise.

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