By Sue-Ann Wayow
ALL schools in Trinidad will be closed today (Thursday, October 6, 2022).
Minister of Education Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly in a brief statement on Facebook at 7.08 am said that principals will be issued official documentation.
The Ministry of Education is also expected to issue a release shortly.
The decision was made after the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service upgraded its Riverine Flood Alert from Yellow to Orange on Thursday morning at 6.55 am.
The passage of a tropical wave on Wednesday caused flooding in northeastern Trinidad and in Tobago. Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly Farley Augustine also announced the closure of all schools in the sister isle.
TTMS stated, “Continuous rainfall overnight has pushed major watercourses to critical thresholds and some may be close to overspilling or already doing so. Periods of heavy showers, rain and thunderstorms are still expected. This additional rainfall, in combination with spring tides, can keep the river levels elevated and there now exists a severe risk to public safety, livelihood and property. Smaller water courses over both Trinidad and Tobago are also elevated and can burst their banks with additional rainfall.”
The TTMS is advising the population to finalise preparations to protect lives, livelihoods, and property., activate a safety plan, secure food, water, and medicine for at least seven days in waterproof containers, protect important assets and documents and not take unnecessary risks.