No rivers overflowed

NO rivers in Port of Spain overflowed as a result of heavy rainfall on Sunday. Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan made this statement on Monday in the Senate. He told senators that 25 to 45 mm of rain fell in a five to six hour period over the country on Sunday.

“That is the rainfall you would normally get over a one week or two week period.” Sinanan said this would pose a challenge to infrastructure and flooding was reported in different parts of Trinidad.

Recalling that Cabinet approved a 298 de-silting programme, Sinanan said over a 100 of these projects have been completed to date. The Bagatelle, Blue Basin, Diego Martin and Maraval areas were some of the areas were de-silted.

Sinanan declared, “ None of the rivers in Port of Spain broke their banks.” He explained that if these areas were not de-silted, “it would have been a much bigger disaster.” Sinanan added that flooding in North Trinidad occurred in Wrightson Road, downtown Port of Spain and in the Westmoorings area.

While the Malick River was de-silted, Sinanan said there was flooding in Barataria area. This is linked to development in the area, Sinanan said. The ministry’s drainage division is distributed into four areas.

Sinanan said this shows the water courses are being cleaned but there remains a fair amount to be done. Rural Development and Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein said cleanup activities and drainage assessments are ongoing in various local government jurisdictions.

He said 50 houses were affected by flooding in Beetham Gardens area. Hosein said the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation is assisting these people. Similar efforts are being undertaken by the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation regarding two homes that were flooded in Tunapuna.

A tree which fell on the Priority Bus Route in the vicinity of Price Smart in Mausica was removed. Six homes were affected by flooding in the Windsor Park area. Clean up activities are also being undertaken by the Port of Spain City, San Fernando City, Chaguanas Borough, Sangre Grande Regional, Princes Town Regional and Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporations.