The banks of the Caroni River broke in two areas at New Street, Caroni Village, on Wednesday night.
However, Chaguanas West MP Dinesh Rambally said swift action by villagers and a call to Works Minister Rohan Sinanan prevented the community from flooding out.
Yesterday, Rambally said urgent remedial work is needed.
“Last night (Wednesday) around 8.30 pm, I got urgent calls from residents that the banks had been compromised along certain parts. When I got here, the water was gushing when the river water breached the bank and started flooding. I contacted the Drainage Division and Minister Sinanan. They listened to the plight of the villagers to arrest the situation and the ministry delivered five loads of backfill. Around 50 residents assisted in the delivery of the materials near the river along key points to ensure the water stopped. When I left here around 4 am the flow was arrested.”
Rambally said a permanent solution is needed to fix the problem. He said the river takes a bend along La Paille Village in the area of Tullock Street, where he envisions another breach may occur.
At St Helena, several areas were under water.
Councillor Samuel Sankar walks through the floodwater at Madras Road, yesterday.
COURTESY SAMUEL SANKAR
Samuel Sankar, the local government representative for Kelly Village/Warrenville on the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation (TPRC), said parts of Madras, St Helena, El Carmen, Piarco and Caroni were under water yesterday and around 3,500 residents were affected.
“The Disaster Management Unit (DMU) of the TPRC is on the ground doing surveys. There are three trucks on the ground with officials from the DMU. We are looking to bring some relief for the affected residents who are in need of flood grants.
“Clean-up action is planned for when the waters go down. We are asking residents to get prepared, get sandbags, get supplies. This situation would only get worse in the coming months if we continue to experience such heavy rainfall.”
Chaguanas East MP Rishard Seecharan said the flood caused massive devastation.
“We have very high waters in St Helena. I tried to pass through Kelly but it was impossible in some areas unless with a truck. We only had rains for one day and we want the Minister of Works to do his job and alleviate flooding. He made various promises before the 2020 election and none of these promises have come to pass.”
Seecharan said the residents are in need of government assistance to get back on their feet.