Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management CEO Stephen Ramroop yesterday blamed the flooding that occurred in several parts of T&T on climate change, littering and poor infrastructure.
In a brief interview with the T&T Guardian, Ramroop said: "There is a lot of litter on the roadside and in the city and it is collecting. The climate change is causing water to come up rapidly."
He said yesterday's weather system was not related to Hurricane Matthew but a western convergence caused intense rainfall.
"This is rainy season weather. In the years (past) we had landslides all around this time and the weather is anxious to give us trouble around October and November.
"The chemistry allowed intensive rainfall which caused the problem," Ramroop added.
He said there were reports of vehicles stranded and heavy winds.
"That is part of the problem. We are seeing this regulary. Over ten and 15 years ago we never used to have these troubles," he said.
He said, however, that there was a lot of littering along the roadways that was adding to the problem.
Pointing to garbage thrown on the side of the roadway, Ramroop said infrastructure over the years in Port-of-Spain and environs had also changed. He noted too that the ODPM's funding had been cut and its allocation was $20 million, which was hampering its ability to operate effectively. He said engaging the private sector could assist it with funding. "We don't need big funding to tell citizens to clean around their houses," he added.
