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Residents of Joseph Pollydore Street appeal to the M&CC
Empty drink bottles and other refuse contribute to the flooding of residents’ yards
Some residents of Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge are appealing to officials at City Hall to remedy an engineering problem that has created a health hazard and is disrupting their lives.
The problem comes in the form of a blocked canal that runs in front of Prince’s Kitchen, a restaurant that offers food and pastries for sale to the public.
Residents say that the businessman’s bridge has been built in such a way that it impedes the smooth flow of water along the canal, the concomitant result being severe flooding whenever it rains.
The owner, who identified himself as ‘Prince,’ rejected the claims of the residents and said that the poor drainage system, not his bridge, was responsible for the blockage. When Kaieteur News visited the area, it was noted that discarded drink bottles and other debris were floating around in the eastern half of the area, where the water should have exited.
The water level in the canal was a bit low, while a one-inch PVC pipe protruded from the concrete structure. The western side of the bridge was also clogged up, and the water appeared to be stagnant.
The businessman said that he recently bought the property and made some slight adjustments to the infrastructure. He said that there was no way that those adjustments could have been responsible for the current problem. He also said that he had conformed to the stipulated procedure of the engineers at the Mayor and City Council.
When contacted for a statement, Public Relations Officer of the M&CC, Royston King, said that he was only now told of the problem, but promised to look into the matter immediately.
The PRO reiterated that the M&CC has been urging residents to seek advice before venturing into civil works on their premises. “This prerequisite is not to delay the process, but to ensure that the integrity of the environment is maintained,” King said.
He pointed out that whenever such situations arise, they do not only affect the individuals concerned, but all other residents in the particular community. “As such, we continue to urge all citizens to observe the City’s by-laws, because, in the end, it will be to the benefit of all involved,” he concluded.
Deputy Mayor Robert Williams had a look at the photographs of the area and contended that the problem appears to be the fault of the engineers. “Unless the culvert is as wide as the drain, problems of this nature will arise.”
He said that the City engineers will be required to re-evaluate the situation and make the necessary adjustments.
Meanwhile, residents are hoping that the situation is rectified soon, since one shower of rain is all it takes to flood their premises.
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