Devastating, sad and tragic. That's how Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar described the impact of flooding on homes in several areas in central and east Trinidad yesterday. "Really, really devastating it seems to me. Water is still on the ground and the rain clouds are still there. The forecast is for more rain over the weekend, so I would say it won't get better right away," the Prime Minister told reporters. "All we can do is offer immediate assistance, relief, in terms of food, drinking water, a dry place to sleep," she added.
Persad-Bissessar was accompanied by Members of Parliament for St Augustine, Chaguanas West and St Joseph, Prakash Ramadhar, Jack Warner and Herbert Volney, respectively, permanent secretary and head of the Public Service Sandra Marchack, permanent secretary in the Local Government Ministry Jacqueline Wilson, chief executive officer in the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) Colonel George Robinson. The tour, which lasted more than four hours, took the officials to Piarco, Valsayn, Carapo and Bamboo Settlement No 3.
Many residents of the communities were high in praise for the new Prime Minister's visit. Persad-Bissessar waved to residents. She hugged babies and spoke with many affected residents. She even distributed food hampers to some residents in Bamboo No 3. There was a resident there who was shouting at the top of his voice, requesting to speak with St Augustine MP Prakash Ramadhar. After the man repeatedly called for Ramadhar's ear, Persad-Bissessar instructed him to "go talk with him." The MP heeded the PM's advice. Dressed in appropriate boots, a long khaki-coloured pants and a multicoloured top, Persad-Bissessar walked in flood waters. She stood on a bridge where rubble and other debris were trapped under it.
At all flood-hit areas she visited yesterday, many residents said they were very pleased to see such immediate attention being given to the problem. They told her they had never seen a Prime Minister in their areas before. The young, the elderly and many women all tried to touch the new PM in appreciation. "Let me shake your hands," one elderly woman said as she rushed to greet the new Prime Minister in Bamboo No 3. They waved and expressed their gratitude for her visit. One resident said the showers had come to clean up the country and to introduce a government of change. The Prime Minister said immediate assistance would be provided to the affected families. She said consideration was being given to temporarily relocating some of them.
"Details have been taken to relocate them to a house where they can be safe," Persad-Bissessar said. She congratulated the ODPM for its efforts to provide relief to the affected residents. Food supplies, mattresses and other items were provided to the affected residents, the PM added. She met with officials of the ODPM on Wednesday and yesterday. One of the decisions taken during the meeting was to amend the 32-year-old Disaster Law in T&T. She said consideration would be given to providing the ODPM with adequate resources shortly. Persad-Bissessar said there was need for a plan to be implemented to reduce the incidence of such flooding across the country. One family was marooned in their Valsayn home since Wednesday. Persad-Bissessar said no one had gone in or left that house since Wednesday. She added, however, that the ODPM was expected to "move in" to assist the family yesterday.
The new Prime Minister said "a lot of man-made blockers and barriers" would have contributed to the flooding across the country. She added that work would be done to the Mamoral Dam and the Caparo River shortly. Told that one citizen died after being swept away by flood waters in Tamana hours earlier, Persad-Bissessar expressed regret and sadness over the fatality. She said she remained confident that the new Government would do all it could to improve the quality of life for all citizens. Describing her first full day in office as "a working day," Persad-Bissessar advised citizens: "Keep strong, keep focused. We'll get the job done. It may take a little longer in some ways, but we'll get the job done."
Jearlean visits Oropune
Managing director of the T&T Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Jearlean John visited flood-hit residents of Oropune Gardens, Piarco, yesterday. It was the third visit by John, HDC officials and contractors this week. John said yesterday that the cause of the flooding seemed to be a "drainage problem." She said the visit was intended to get a first-hand view of what was required to correct the problem as the water had subsided. John and HDC officials are expected to return to the site at 8 am today.