Floods in Port of Spain

Staff Article
August 25, 2004

Many people tend to get emotionally caught-up with the media images of the mayhem effects of high-level floodwater in the city of Port of Spain, and other areas throughout Trinidad. When all goes back to 'normal', once again, things are forgotten as if it never happened, missing the message from the media images about the reality of a terrible drainage situation in our country.

Charlotte St. P.O.S. Photos: Christine

These images however are obvious proof that we cannot rely on the government to do their part in securing and protecting the people, and the land in the event of natural calamities.

Although modern technology serves its purpose, we simply cannot dismiss the fact that with all the sophisticated meteorological tracking systems, and the millions of dollars government spends on observing and analyzing the weather, no amount of academics and hi-tech forecasting is going to change the natural flow of Mother Nature.

The problem here is not rain and/or floods; the problem here is ignorance. When flash floods occur, the land gets saturated. The poor drainage system will obviously fail and nature will just have to take its course. For many it can be most unpleasant and/or devastating.

Unfortunately, learning and understanding how to work with nature are not written in the books the system used before they ran their pipes and walls, and whatever else they slapped into place and shockingly labeled it as drainage. Obviously arrogance got a hold on these people, and kicked sense right out the window.

The pictures I present here do speak a thousand words.

I can only suggest here that people do their part as well by becoming more informed and aware. When poor planning, greed and ignorance become the character of those who design the system, the security of all will always be at risked.


Update:

No more flooding in PoS - mayor
Posted: Tuesday, October 19, 2004
By Peter Balroop, www.guardian.co.tt
Port-of-Spain mayor Murchison Brown was exultant yesterday morning as he predicted that with the acquisition of a spanking new $1.2 million dredger, the city would no longer suffer from flooding.

Tell a friend: