John: 114 maintenance projects across Trinidad and Tobago

WORKS and Infrastructure Minister Jearlean John has announced 114 routine maintenance projects across the country as part of her ministry's efforts to alleviate the impact of flooding when the annual rainy season arrives.

Speaking at the post-cabinet press conference on Thursday May 15 at the Red House, John said the scope of maintenance and repair work to the country's roads and drainage infrastructure was massive following ten years of neglect under the previous PNM government.

"We would have seen year after year, people's lives literally floating away and a government that appeared immune to the suffering of the people," she said, adding that this has changed with the April 28 general elections which saw the PNM voted out of office.

"We intend to take a people-centred approach when it comes to flood mitigation."

John revealed that last week, she convened a meeting of technocrats including the ministry's chief technical officer, representatives from the Highways Division, PURE (Programme for the Upgrading of Roads Efficiency), representatives from the Drainage Division and others in an effort to work towards mitigation plans.

"We can't stop the rains from falling, but we can't stand back and wring our hands. We are looking at a wide programme of attempting to mitigate people's suffering."

She said the 114 routine maintenance projects throughout TT include clearing and cleaning of roadside and outfall drains, cleaning of culverts, unclogging of water channels, degrassing and vegetation control, desilting work on various watercourses, clearing of rivermouths, structural repairs to drainage infrastructure inclusive of replacement of culvert crossings, construction and extension of roadway drains, and where necessary, the raising of roads.

She claimed that critical maintenance works in the Caroni river had almost completely stopped but under the new government, this was resumed. "So it's an expansive set of works."

John said after the Finance and General Purposes Committee meeting next Monday, she is hopeful that after the procurement exercise, she and the ministry's teams could mobilise very quickly to undertake the maintenance projects, "because as you know, the rainy season is upon us."

Three ministries, namely the Works and Infrastructure, the Rural Development and Local Government and the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries are working together to oversee the national flood mitigation strategy.