It is rather strange that after being affected by flood waters on so many occasions, some of us still do not seem to understand the accompanying dangers because of their refusal to yield to certain construction guidelines before embarking on drainage structures

It would appear that although people have been affected from time to time by flood waters, (some of them very severely), they have still not learnt any lesson, and only drastic enforcement of the law would force them to respect the authority.

In the aftermath of the recent high spring tide which pounded Guyana’s coastline and dumped millions of gallons of water on the land, especially in villages along the lower East Coast, the Government in a lightening move took away the authority of the NDC over drainage structures.

It is sad that Government had to resort to such actions, but experts say the Government’s intervention is in the best interest of the people in those areas affected by the flood waters. In fact some of them are of the view that the Government should have intervened long before now, and had this been done, the people might not have been so much or even not at all affected.

Several indicators are pointing to the fact that many of the residents affected by the flood waters contributed to their own demise by not adhering to the by-laws in doing their drainage structures. In some cases structures were sealed off and this surely prevented water from draining off the land.

We hope that residents from other areas throughout the country will learn from the East Coast experience, and whenever they have to erect bridges and driveways etc. they must construct in a manner that would not impede the free flow of water, and desist from blocking drainage structures. This is indeed a serious problem and the Government’s direct intervention is a step in the right direction for the benefit of the people.

We support Agriculture Minister, Mr. Robert Persaud’s pronouncement that businesses and residents whose structures were removed as part of the drainage relocation and improvement in the Montrose/Vryheid’s Lust/Better Hope area must first seek permission and receive an approved design from either the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority or the Ministry of Public Works Road Division.

Experts are of the view that if the people construct their drainage structures in accordance with the approved design, the Government will not have need to pump millions of dollars in areas which are vulnerable to flooding, whenever there is unusual high tide. This is money which could have been spent in other important areas of development

We know it is the duty of the Government to as much as possible look after the welfare of every citizen of this country, but this does not give citizens the right to wantonly run foul of the law.

If laws are in place for any specific reason, we believe it is the duty of every citizen to respect and adhere to them for the people’s own good.

We are certain that if this were so on the East Coast, residents might not have been so affected during the recent flooding.

We feel that now, more than ever, the time has come for us to brace ourselves together for our own good and the good of the country.