PoS Mayor, IDB work on flood plan

Port of Spain Mayor Joel Martinez and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) are strategically looking at ways to alleviate flooding which has been plaguing the capital city for years.

“Studies have been done on Port of Spain and I am diligently reviewing them and working on proposing strategies which would target flooding once and for all,” Martinez said yesterday. Martinez had dispatched City Corporation officials to assess the severity of flooding in downtown Port of Spain, after a heavy downpour. The heavy rain began around lunchtime and continued until 4 pm, disrupting vendors who usually sell at the exits of City Gate, as floodwaters entered the transportation hub. South Quay and surrounding streets also flooded. “There has been tremendous rainfall in such a short space of time and we are working towards fixing the flooding situation in Port-of-Spain,” said Martinez.

Mario’s Pizza’s City Gate branch profited from the downpour as they had an increase in sales from those stranded there. “The water is right inside City Gate but it is not affecting Mario’s negatively. We are getting a lot more sales from people who are waiting for the water to subside,” said the manager.

Weather forecasts yesterday reported on early morning and afternoon showers disrupting hot and sunny conditions, with the likelihood of heavy showers or thunder showers towards late afternoon in western Trinidad.