Anna-Lisa Paul
This morning's heavy downpour, which made the eastbound lane of the Churchill Roosevelt Highway in the vicinity of Coca-Cola impassable, is being blamed on the indiscriminate dumping of garbage.
Resident Chaitram Samaroo of Bhagaloo Street, Pasea, Tunapuna, whose property was flooded, said he had appealed to the authorities to clean the river alongside his home.
This is the first time the 59-year-old has been adversely affected, and he believes that if efforts were made to clean the main waterway, today's flooding could have been alleviated.
The rising water levels between 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. led to a major traffic gridlock, as motorists headed east could not proceed freely.
Guardian Media caught up with St Augustine Councillor Jay Lynn Roopnarine at the blocked river which comes down from the Tunapuna area.
She indicated that several attempts have been made to clear the river, but a blockage in the vicinity of Coca-Cola has been hampering the process.
She said the persistent issue became even more pronounced in the last week and a half, but she has vowed to intensify moves to clear it as the rainy season is expected to bring increased rain which would, in turn, affect burgesses if it is not dealt with.
