| The National Task Force will hold its first meeting on Thursday in the boardroom of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC).This was disclosed on Saturday by Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, who also revealed that over fifty invitees are expected to attend,Cheap China Jerseys, including members of the diplomatic corps, officials from the Netherlands and technical personnel.“The task force will begin its work immediately, and phase one of the task force’s reports is scheduled to be completed for May 2016 and will include the short term measures for works that will ensure we can at least drain more efficiently.”He stated that the more permanent solutions to the drainage problem, contained in the second phase, will be completed by May 2017,Cheap Jerseys China, and the third/final phase would be concluded in May 2020.“This will be the completed work nationwide, including rehabilitation and urban renovation.” Patterson enunciated.Following on the heels of massive flooding throughout the country that saw Guyana endure a record-breaking 8.3 inches of rainfall, cabinet awarded the task force $36M to carry out its mandate. Its overall responsibility is to oversee the country’s drainage and irrigation systems, in addition to the requisite recommendations for improvements.Retired Major General Joe Singh will head the task force,Cheap NFL Jerseys, which will also include Charles Sohan, Malcolm Ally, Egbert Carter, Andrew Bishop, Stanley Ming, Joseph Holder, Charles Ceres and Dr. David Singh. It is also expected that members of the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE), the Private Sector, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) as well as representatives from various Ministries will be a part of the task force.The areas expected to be targeted during the planning phase are drainage, solid waste management, the removal of derelict vehicles, traffic management, the renewal and sustainability of urban physical structure and improved welfare management for the homeless and the addicted.With the majority of Guyana’s population living in the low–lying coastal regions,Wholesale NFL Jerseys China, the rising sea-levels linked to global warming, coupled with heavy rainfall has seen to it that homes, businesses,NFL Jerseys China, hospitals, and schools are constantly under floodwaters. Coastal portions of Guyana sit from 19.7 inches (0.5 metre) to 39.4 inches (1 metre) below sea level.About 25 percent of the coast is protected by seawalls, 60 percent by mangroves, and 15 percent by natural sandbanks. As a protection mechanism, the seawalls have sluice gates to allow floodwaters from heavy rains and high tides to drain. However, the gates are controlled by gravity and cannot open if the tide is too high. |
