The Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) has spent approximately J$27 million on drain-cleaning operations throughout the Corporate Area since March of this year, and says while there is reportedly a greater sense of awareness on the part of the citizens, a lot more is still to be done.

"It is quite refreshing to see the kind of response we are now getting from some of our citizens," Isaac Nugent, disaster coordinator of the KSAC tells The Sunday Gleaner, "but there is still a far way to go, as some are still contributing to the blocking of the drains.

"Our citizens need to realise that when they throw the garbage in the gullies, they are creating a danger to themselves, because this is what blocks the drains and causes a lot of flooding."

Emergency shelters

Despite the KSAC being stretched to the limits, the coordinator gave the assurance that his team was prepared to deal with all eventualities. There are some 50 trained shelter managers, while all government schools and some churches will be used as emergency shelters. Other churches, he said, are reluctant to open their doors to victims of disaster due to a high rate of alleged vandalism.

Nugent, however, said that equipment and personnel were on call in case of land slippage or any other eventualities, and the necessary relief supplies had been ordered or had already been acquired.

According to KSAC Town Clerk Errol Green, areas of concern are Spanish Town Road, sections of Duhaney Park, and Marcus Garvey Drive. Areas that should be avoided during heavy rainfall include Queensborough, Grants Pen, Waterloo Road and the Cassia Park area.

Tree trimming

He also told The Sunday Gleaner that a resolution was recently passed by the KSAC, requiring all residents of Kingston and St Andrew to trim their trees to an acceptable level. It was also decided by the KSAC to advise the Jamaica Public Service to trim the trees that were located near their power lines.

Residents in Bull Bay, St Andrew, where flood-mitigation work is being carried out, are fearful it is not being done properly and might result in the destruction of their homes, as silt that has been removed from the riverbed is being left on the banks in mounds that are in some instances higher than the dwelling houses. Efforts by The Sunday Gleaner to investigate were disallowed by individuals who claimed to be in charge of the operations.

When contacted, Reginald Allen, director of communications, at the Transport and Works Ministry, said that the report of improper desilting activities would be thoroughly investigated.