By Chantalé Fletcher
FOLLOWING the flooding in Caroni from August 4 to 6, Chaguans West MP Dinesh Rambally says he is still awaiting the promised action by the Governenment to ease the lives of his constituents.
On Friday, Rambally sent letters to Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan, Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Faris Al-Rawi, and Chairman of the Tunapuna\Piarco Regional Corporation Kwasi Robinson with short-term and long-term measures to prevent floods.
He said, “Residents of Caroni, particularly Ibis Garden, Caroni Village, La Paille Gardens, La Paille Settlement and those along the river bank face imminent threat of being flooded out unless urgent action is taken.”
Rambally called on Sinanan to rebuild the embankments along the Old Caroni River and the embankment along the Caroni River particularly in the vicinity of Ibis Gardens, Caroni Village, La Paille and La Paille Settlement (at Tullock Street Extension) as well as the repair and\or conduct servicing of the sluice gates and flood flaps along the Caroni River particularly in the Caroni Village area.
He wanted Al-Rawi to partner with the TPRC to clear the waterways and deliver 12 to 15 loads of backfill at the Old Caroni River bank at the top of Persad Street and the provision of the necessary equipment to rebuild the comprised embankment.
In addition, Rambally called on the TPRC to conduct thorough clearing and cleaning of internal drains and watercourses, suction cesspools in the affected home in Caroni Village and widen the drains and increase the size of the culverts which serve as the outflow of the Caroni Village at the area of Bridge Street and Railway Road.
On behalf of constituents, he introduced some long-term measures within the area, which included the installation of sirens on various streets to warrant the evacuation of homes when water in the Old Caroni River has reached critical levels.
In addition to easily available sand and sandbags for flood prevention preparations; the introduction of a local State of Emergency in situations where there was an occurrence of potential and/or there is in fact widespread or severe damage, injury or loss of life or property; establishing temporary clinics after floods recede in areas previously flooded with doctors and medical workers to ensure persons who need medical care receive it.
He also said the system for disaster relief grants should be reviewed with priority being given to paying outstanding disaster relief grants and the continuous desilting of rivers and monitoring of river banks.
Rambally reminded the public the issue of floods was a national issue and not localized.
“I am presently holding discussions with various NGOs and environmental groups with a view to revisiting past studies and considering the feasibility of implementing dams/retaining ponds/ prescribed works at the river mouth. This is an area where we should tap into the resources available to us from our own people,” he added.
