Vegetable Prices to Increase after Sunday’s Flooding

By Sue-Ann Wayow

WITH the incessant rainfall on Sunday, there were several reports of flooding across the country.

The Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation (CTTRC) reported the most areas affected by flooding.

In its summary report on Sunday, the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government stated that there were 25 reports of flooding: 16 from the CTTRC, five in the Chaguanas Borough Corporation, two from the Diego Martin Regional Corporation and two in the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation.

There were also eight reports of fallen trees with four being reported out of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation.

Two landslides occurred one in the Diego Martin region and the other in Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo district. The CTRRC also reported a damaged roof.

There were four affected structures.

Ministry officers were conducting situation reports and coordinating relief with various Members of Parliament, ministries and agencies into the evening.

The ministry had also advised that Trinidad and Tobago was experiencing high tides and advised that run-off flooding would have been longer. 

Brace for higher vegetable prices 

Chairman of the CTRRC Henry Awong told AZP News that many farmers in the region were affected.

He said officers from the Corporation were out early in the affected areas assisting with cleaning, doing assessments and providing mattresses and hampers where needed.

Awong said once the assessments were completed, forms will be sent to the Ministry of Social Development and the National Commission for Self Help for processing.

He said, “A lot of farmers were affected. These are farmer who plant short crops like vegetables. They are severely affected. What you are going to see happen in the next few weeks is that the market price for these is going to go up. There is going to have an increase in prices due to all of this flooding. So brace for it.”

Areas affected under the CTTRC: