There were no reports of serious damage to property resulting from yesterday's flash flooding according to Works and Infrastructure Minister Emmanuel George. "There was some flooding in Barataria and Port-of-Spain," he said, "but I don't think it caused much, if any, damage. Officers from the Drainage Division were out there reviewing the situation and they got no reports of serious damage to property," George told the T&T Guardian.
The minister said he also spoke to chairman of the Diego Martin Regional Corporation Anthony Sammy who said the Diego Martin River was swollen, but there were no reports of flooding in the area. He said over the next couple of days the Drainage Division will be in the Port-of-Spain area checking for No reports of flood damage says George clogged drains.
George said while yesterday's rains would have caused some traffic, the showers and flash flooding were all a result of normal Inter- Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) activity around this time of the year. "I got a release from the Met Office around 1.30 pm promising heavy showers and flash flooding because of the ITCZ. And that did take place," he said.
Asked about the new traffic plan for St James, George declined to divulge any details. He said the people must first decide whether they agreed with the proposed changes or not at a meeting planned for yesterday evening at the St James Amphitheatre. George would not even say whether the proposals were the ministry's. "I don't want to comment yet.
This evening (yesterday) we are going to discuss it. The people will have a chance to consider the proposals. I have to hear them first, and when they give their views on whether they agree or not, then we will do whatever we have to do. "It's always the people's opinions. That's how I operate. That's how the Government operates. People feel we don't listen, but we listen."