KINGSTON - Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson today, June 3, 2015 reported that Cabinet has released $75M from the Emergency Fund for desilitng and land clearing in an attempt to reduce flooding and for draining water out of the city.
The Minister made this announcement during a press conference at the Ministry’s office in Wight’s Lane, where he gave an update on the flooding that occurred on May 31.
The press conference was hosted by the Minister and included Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Dr. Karen Cummings, the Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green, City Engineer Walter Willis, and Head of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth.
Minister Patterson reported that as of this morning, all areas have seen the water receding considerably. However, within Georgetown, and low lying areas on the East Coast there is still some amount of water. In Black Bush Polder and the Mahaica/Mahaicony areas there is still some water whilst in all other areas the flood water has been discharged.
He pointed out that all six pumps are working, even though the one at Lamaha Street was set to undergo some minor repairs today. For the Cummings Canal, the clearing and desilting are currently being done by the NDIA, whilst the City Council is clearing areas towards Muneshwers Limited on Water Street. All the outfalls are expected to be cleared within four to six weeks.
Cabinet approves $75M
The Minister announced that Cabinet has given approval for $75M which will go towards, mainly desilting and clearing of drainage structures. The Kingston, Lamaha Street, Sussex Street and Meadow Bank South outfalls are to be desilted.
The inland clearing will include “the drainage tunnel under the Transport and Harbours building in Kingston, east to Lamaha Street, the drainage tunnel from Muneshwers boundary going east to Avenue of the Republic, the concrete channel leading up to the pump station at John Fernandes, and the channel leading up to the Toolsie Persaud area, the Minister explained.
He added that the sum will also facilitate repairs to some revetments and will cover an emergency crew, to be set up to clear blockages in and around the city’s internal drains, which are under culverts and bridges. The crew will comprise teams from the City Council, the Force Account Unit from the Ministries of Public Infrastructure and Communities. Minister Patterson explained that a coordinator will be appointed to effect the smooth running of the crew, mainly ensuring that there be no wasting of time.
A hot line will also be set up for persons in the city to call and report blockages in their areas, and which the crew members will respond to as quickly as possible.
The Minister made it quite clear that the present undertaking is not the solution to the drainage problem, but “it is an attempt for the next four to six weeks to ensure that should there be another period of high rainfall, the time taken for it to reduce the flooding or getting the water out of the city would be reduced.”
