SECOND PUMP ADDED TO ALEXANDER VILLAGE TO BOOST GTOWN DRAINAGE SYSTEM

Added: 2026-05-15

[00:00:08]Floodwaters in several low-lying communities across Georgetown began receding Tuesday afternoon as authorities ramped up drainage efforts including the installation of an additional pump in Alexander Village.

[00:00:22]Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha said Alexander Village and Queenstown remained among the most flood-prone communities because water builds up rapidly during heavy rainfall.

[00:00:35]He explained that after President Irfaan Ali visited the area Tuesday morning and observed rising water levels, instructions were immediately given for another pump to be deployed.

[00:00:47]In Queenstown and Alexander Village, these are very low-lying and vulnerable areas.

[00:00:52]So, these are the areas that accumulate water much faster than any parts of Georgetown.

[00:00:58]But, unlike Queenstown, when we were there, the water was draining off very rapidly.

[00:01:04]But, when we came here, the water was building up for Street Alexander Village. So, the president instructed that we move another pump and bring it here. Pump is here, you can see, and it's operable. This sluice door is open now. As soon as this sluice door close, both pumps here will be operable. The pumping capacity in Georgetown will increase because we are looking now at other areas to beef up the other areas.

[00:01:27]The newly installed pump will remain in the community permanently bringing the total number of pumps in Alexander Village to two. According to Mustapha, the intervention is expected to significantly reduce flooding in the vulnerable community. He added that Georgetown now has a total of 16 operational pumps. With more rainfall expected closer to the weekend, authorities say preparations are continuing across the country.

[00:01:55]When we look around the country, the the rain of has eased off, but also the hydromet office warned that we'll have more rainfall closer to the weekend, so we are continuing to making doing all the preparatory work. We are continuing to put system in place so that we can have effective drainage system around Georgetown. You know also that what we have done we have the work that we have done in and around Georgetown and other parts of the country we are having less time the this year has no water accumulated for less time here now and this show that the work that we have done over time we are draining the city faster and we are having better drainage system around the country. Mustapha Ford revealed that Guyana now has 217 pumps across the country with additional units recently acquired to be deployed wherever flooding challenges arise.

[00:02:49]Reporting for the newsroom, I am Sharda Baksh.