Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner Writer
This house in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, was flooded by water from the Great Pedro Pond following the passage of Hurricane Emily in July last year. - CLAUDINE HOUSEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
AFTER MONTHS of delays, the National Works Agency (NWA) is promising that work should commence in another month on the construction of a canal to correct what has become an annual problem of flooding in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth.
Stephen Shaw, communication and customer service manager at the NWA, told The Gleaner yesterday that the design of the canal should be completed "within two to three weeks" to facilitate the start of construction. Thereafter, he said, the project would have to be put to tender for the award of contract, which could take another two weeks.
In the meantime, residents of affected neighbourhoods in Treasure Beach are growing increasingly apprehensive at the prospect of another hurricane season with the threat of more flooding. "We are particularly disappointed that the long-awaited solution has not yet been implemented," said George DeLeon, convenor of Citizens Alert Group of Treasure Beach.
EVACUATION
The problem attracted national attention last October when, following the passage of Hurricane Wilma, about 15 families in Great Bay and Calabash Bay had to be evacuated as the nearby ponds overflowed their banks and flooded their homes. Some families were only able to return to their homes after eight weeks.
This was only the latest, but arguably the worst in a series of such events over four successive years, and strengthened calls for the Government to provide a lasting solution.
Cabinet last year allocated $16 million for the construction of a canal linking the Great Pond (the largest of five problem ponds) to the sea, in order to drain excessive water flows away from threatened homes. The citizens group is arguing, however, that the problem can only be adequately addressed if the other ponds are linked to the canal.
While not providing details regarding the project, Mr. Shaw stressed that the NWA was being very careful in designing the canal "because of difficulties with the area and the seriousness of the related hydrology."
Reflecting the frustration of residents, however, Mr. DeLeon said that his group was in "a militant and purposeful" mood, as it awaited final word from the Government on the project.
Attempts to get the Government to address the problem of flooding associated with the ponds in Treasure Beach date back to 1986. That year a technical team from Alcan Jamaica Company (which was succeeded recently by West Indies Alumina Company - Windalco) recommended the construction of a canal to the sea - the same solution being touted twenty years later.
