By Clint Chan Tack Friday, July 30 2010

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Flooding again: Once more, torrential showers left parts of Port-of-Spain, including South Quay leading to the Eastern Main Road, under floodwaters ye...

FOR the second time in the life of her two-month-old Government, Prime Minister Kamla Persad- Bissessar immediately dispatched all of her MPs into their respective constituencies to assess the damage caused by yesterday’s flooding. This was disclosed by Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner at yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair at 2.30 pm. Before the start of the briefing, press secretary Garvin Nicholas expressed the Government’s gratitude to the small group of reporters who braved the flooding in Port-of- Spain to attend the conference.

“The Cabinet today decided that all the MPs should go to their constituencies immediately to work with their constituents to assess damages that is being done by the floods. You will see an absence of MPs in the building at the moment,” Warner stated. Looking at the seven reporters and three television cameramen in front of him, Warner added, “I am surprised you were able to come here.”

Shortly after the May 24 General Election, Persad-Bissessar instructed all 29 Partnership MPs to coordinate flood relief operations in their constituencies when several parts of the country were affected by severe flooding.

After stating that he directed his ministry’s Drainage Division to commence dredging of the Caparo and Cunupia Rivers, Warner revealed that Government plans to hire experts to advise it on how to deal with flooding. He further disclosed that a note will go to Cabinet next week to hire a TT national who is a specialist on flooding in Port-of-Spain.

Claiming this person has been “bypassed and neglected over the years” by the former government, Warner said, “The expert who I have recommended to Cabinet, his report I found here in the ministry.” Blowing on a document in front of him, Warner quipped, “All you need to do is dust, and you could, of course, easily have recommended it.”

Recalling there were previous initiatives to deal with flooding in Port-of-Spain, Warner said the difference with this expert’s report is that it has been internationally acclaimed and is relevant to addressing the flood challenges in this country.

Stating the construction of retention ponds and improving drainage were other elements of Government’s plans to tackle flooding, Warner was confident these measures would work despite the challenges posed by the heavy and consistent rainfall which the country has been experiencing.