Ramsammy’s Flood Defense Collapses Under the Weight of Reality
Dr. Leslie Ramsammy’s column in Guyana Times is not an analysis—it is a political defense crafted to insulate the Government from scrutiny at a time when citizens are demanding answers. It relies on deflection, exaggeration, and selective framing, while the reality unfolding across Guyana tells a very different story.
Let us dispense immediately with the strawman. No serious critic is claiming that the PPP Government caused the rainfall. That argument exists only in the imagination of those seeking to trivialize legitimate public concern. The real issue is far more substantive: whether the Government’s drainage systems, maintenance regime, and emergency response are adequate for the conditions Guyana now routinely faces.
And on that question, the evidence on the ground is damning.
Across multiple communities—Buxton, Annandale, Lusignan, and sections of Mon Repos on the East Coast; Albouystown, South Ruimveldt, and parts of Sophia in Georgetown; and low-lying areas in Regions 3, 5, and 6, including sections of West Berbice and the Corentyne—residents reported prolonged flooding within hours of heavy rainfall. In several instances, water levels remained high well after rainfall subsided, a clear indication that drainage was either too slow, uneven, or compromised.
There have also been persistent complaints, supported by photographs and videos widely circulated on social media, of clogged canals, silted trenches, and overtopping kokers in areas such as Cane Grove, Enmore, and Mahaica. In some communities, residents reported pumps operating intermittently or below optimal capacity during critical periods. Whether each individual report is universally accurate is not the point—the consistency of these accounts across regions cannot be dismissed as fabrication.
This is precisely where Dr. Ramsammy’s argument collapses.
He points to increased drainage capacity—from 1.5 inches to 2 inches—as proof of progress. But citizens do not experience “capacity” in inches; they experience outcomes. If improved infrastructure still results in widespread and prolonged flooding, then the system—however improved—is still insufficient for present conditions.
Saying the system was “overwhelmed” does not end the discussion. It begins it.
It raises unavoidable questions: why are known flood-prone communities like Buxton and parts of the Corentyne still so vulnerable after years of investment? Why does water recede relatively quickly in some parts of Georgetown while lingering for days in places like Sophia and Albouystown? Are maintenance schedules consistent and verifiable, or reactive and uneven? Where is the transparent data on pump uptime, drainage flow rates, and response timelines?
These are not political attacks. They are basic standards of governance.
Equally troubling is the attempt to dismiss criticism as “disinformation” while relying on isolated counterexamples to defend a national system. Highlighting a single functioning pump in Plaisance does not negate reported issues in Enmore, Mahaica, or along the Corentyne Coast. Governance cannot be assessed through selective snapshots; it must be judged on system-wide performance.
Meanwhile, citizens have not been silent witnesses. From Buxton to Berbice, they have documented their experiences in real time—flooded yards, submerged roadways, water entering homes, and stagnant pools lingering for days. These are not opposition narratives; they are lived realities, visible to anyone willing to look beyond official statements.
Dr. Ramsammy also seeks to elevate ministerial presence in affected communities as evidence of effective governance. But presence after the fact is not a substitute for preparedness. If anything, the recurring flooding in places like Mahaica and West Berbice raises serious questions about whether enough preventative work is being done before the rains arrive.
Yes, climate change is intensifying rainfall. Yes, Guyana is not alone in facing these challenges. But invoking global trends cannot be used to dilute local responsibility. Other countries are also being judged—rightly—on how well their systems perform under pressure.
The truth is not as convenient as the narrative being advanced. Guyana’s drainage system may be improving, but it is still inconsistent, still vulnerable, and in too many places, still failing under stress. Acknowledging that reality is not an attack on the Government—it is a prerequisite for fixing the problem.
What is truly dangerous is the attempt to gaslight a population that is visibly and physically experiencing the consequences of these shortcomings. Telling citizens that everything is working while they stand in floodwater is not leadership. It is denial.
Dr. Ramsammy’s column does not rise to the level of serious national discourse. It asks the public to ignore evidence, dismiss their own experiences, and accept a politically convenient narrative.
The people of Guyana deserve better—especially when the water rises
Sincerely
Hemdutt Kumar
