Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 25, 2014 Letters
DEAR EDITOR,
In a KN Article of Feb. 23 on the above referenced subject, it was reported that Mr. Phillip Allsopp, a celebrated Engineer, has dedicated his life towards understanding the drainage and irrigation network of Guyana and he has made sterling contributions towards the country’s development.
I happened to work under Mr. Allsopp first when he was Director of Public Works and later as Chief Works and Hydraulics Officer (CWHO), a politically-generated post at that time, as senior engineers with hydraulic engineering experience (which Mr. Allsopp does not have) and management capability were not considered by the civil service commission for the post.
As I recall, Mr. Allsopp’s major contribution while at the Ministry of Works and Hydraulics (MWH) was his development of means and methods to better understand the soil characteristics of Guyana with particular application to the design and construction of roads. He was head of the Roads Division of MHW for many years and oversaw the design and construction of some of Guyana’s major roads.
However, I am not aware of his sterling dedication to the drainage and irrigation of Guyana although during his tenure as CWHO he had administrative responsibilities to make policy decisions regarding drainage and irrigation as well as sea defence, after due consultation and advice from the relevant Divisions.
It is worth noting that not so long ago he was appointed by the PPP Govt. as a Commissioner of the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC). The evidence during his assignment suggests that he made no significant contribution to the strategic development and management of that poorly managed entity although the controversial Hope Canal Project was conceived and launched during his period of service.
With respect to his comments on the Marriott Hotel, he was bang on when he stated that the hotel is located at a bad site. Any Architect advising their clients will tell them that one of the most important requirements for a hotel is location! Location!! And Location!!!
The rear of the hotel accesses to a beach and guests will have wonderful views from their rooms of the Atlantic Ocean and Demerara River which are definite attractions to lure tourists, but the landscape from the front is depressing, with a panoramic view of dilapidated city buildings, unkempt properties and a noisy power-plant in the vicinity spewing-out harmful gases (no installed scrubbers) into the atmosphere.
Also, robberies in the Kingston area are not infrequent and this could impact adversely on hotel guests if they take casual steps outside the hotel’s boundary. Water Street (from Muneshwers to Hotel), the main roadway to the hotel, would need a major overhaul, as presently it is an eyesore with too many potholes.
The hotel location in contrast to many other areas in the Kingston Ward has not been subjected to flooding from heavy rainfall or a broken sluice in recent times, and therefore flooding as Mr. Allsopp claims is unlikely to pose any serious problem for the hotel. However, as he noted, climate change with resulting sea level rise generating severe wave actions could cause a breach in the sea defence at the hotel’s location, but it seems that the influences of the Demerara River and nearby groyne are providing some protection from such an eventuality. Charles Sohan
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
Apr 19, 2024
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