Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 16, 2014 News
-Thunderstorms predicted for today
Both the Albouystown and Headstart Nursery Schools will remain closed today, as heavy rains and cloudy skies continue to dominate the weather patterns.
In a brief statement yesterday, the Ministry of Education said that further information on the reopening of the schools will be made public as ongoing assessments continue.
Meanwhile, the Agriculture Ministry is still advising residents in low-lying areas to take all precautionary measures, since thunderstorms are expected to continue today.
In a statement, the Ministry of Agriculture said that rainfall is expected at a range of 30mm in Regions One to Four.
“While water has been receding well in most parts of the city, some areas in Georgetown, Upper and Lower Pomeroon, Charity Housing Scheme and North and South of Canals No. 2 are still under water,” the press release read.
However, two main pumps in the city are still non-functional. The Ministry said that had these been working, coupled with the main drainage structures along the city, the water receding process would have been more rapid.
In addition, the sluices along the Demerara River which are stationed in the city were not working at 100 percent, with at least one being non-functional.
Meanwhile, the Ministry noted that “the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), has been working round the clock to ensure that all structures remain operable to ensure that the water recedes at optimal levels.”
The Agriculture Ministry explained too that while all pumps, especially those at emergency drainage structures are functioning at optimal levels, an emergency drainage and irrigation team has been put in place to deal with any possible breach, which might have occurred last evening.
As of Tuesday, several parts of the city and a few villages along the East Coast of Demerara were under water as the rain continued to come down in torrents.
In late November, a few days of flooding due to heavy rains, brought the city to a standstill, with more than 42 schools being closed, and several businesses having to cease operations.
Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy had described that period of rainfall as being the most intense the country has ever recorded during a six-hour period.
Shortly after, the Government, via Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon, blamed the Guyana Hydrometeorological Office for failing to provide timely warning.
During the time of the last flood, several water pumps in and around the city were not in working condition.
This was despite the government expending billions of dollars on drainage and irrigation systems. In the 2013 budget, a total of $6.5 billion was budgeted for the final payments towards the acquisition of irrigation pumps and the construction and rehabilitation of pumps and pump stations in Regions Three, Four, Five, and Six.
Meanwhile, some twelve city schools were closed yesterday (Wednesday) due to the flood conditions. These are the Tutorial High, Comenius and St. Gabriel’s Primaries, Queenstown Secondary, St. Ambrose Primary, The Bishops’ High, St. Rose’s High, St. Agnes Primary, East R/veldt Secondary, St. Sidwell’s Primary and South Road and Happy Hearts Nursery schools.
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