Decisive action is being taken to tackle the longstanding flooding issue in New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne).
In an interview with the reporters, Mayor Wainwright McIntosh shared that this ambitious project aims to restore our drainage infrastructure and ensure proper water flow. He attributed the current state of the drainage network to years of neglect and irresponsible littering by residents and businesses alike.
“The municipality would have embarked on the robust drainage program whereby our main intent is to reclaim the drainage structure and to alleviate the flooding situation within this town of New Amsterdam — in particular, central New Amsterdam, the commercial hub,” he said.
The mayor expressed strong concerns about the volume of debris being removed from the drains during the ongoing desilting effort.
“Being on the ground with those workers, I was very disappointed with persons who usually litter wherever they go within the town. Cleaning that drain — you would be amazed to see what came out: heavy buildup of silt, plastic bottles, plastic bags, old fans — you name it, it was right there within the drainage network,” he revealed.
The project commenced on Pitt Street and has now progressed toward the Strand area, where teams are diligently desilting drains. After this, they will return to Pitt Street to complete their cycle. Mayor McIntosh acknowledged that while the maintenance work may temporarily disrupt business operations, it is a crucial step that must be taken.
“These types of works usually disrupt the current flow of business, but we felt the time is now for us to ensure our drainage networks are restored to their original form,” McIntosh declared.
In conjunction with the clean-up efforts, the mayor announced the launch of a strong anti-littering campaign. He highlighted the vital role of public cooperation and accountability, warning that those caught littering will be met with legal repercussions.
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