MINISTER AMEEN ON FLOODING

North and South Trinidad have been impacted by flash and riverine flooding as motorists struggle against pursuant traffic to get home.

Transcript

00:00What a rainy Monday. Heavy showers and thunderstorm activity led to an adverse weather alert in place for Western Trinidad.

00:09As per the predictions, this led to flooding in the capital city.

00:13Local government and rural development minister Khadija Amin provides a summary.

00:17We are flooding at South Quay, City Gate, Rison Road, Independence Square, Richmond Street, St. Vincent Street,

00:25Abba Cumbria Street, Arapeta Avenue, Western Main Road, St. James.

00:28We also have a Dundonal, Frederick, Henry and Charlotte Street.

00:33Some of this is flash flooding. The water is receding, but in some areas it will take longer.

00:39This, of course, led serious traffic in and around the capital.

00:43Because of the time we are in, in terms of work being dismissed in Port of Spain,

00:48between three and four, you also have a lot of traffic.

00:53So we are advising people to use alternative routes and not to drive through any flood water

00:59because you don't want to risk damage to your vehicle.

01:02While these are not active water courses where vehicles are at risk of being pushed off the road,

01:09we always advise motorists do not attempt to drive through flood waters.

01:13But the rains north of flooding was limited to north of the island.

01:17We do have floods in some other areas, in Penaldebe, at the Bamboo Junction, Southern Main Road,

01:24going into Dumfries Road and Palmis Boulevard.

01:27We have at the Union Hall in the vicinity of Vemcot, these areas are experiencing flash flooding.

01:34And at 3.30 p.m. when I got the update, they were impassable.

01:39But as the water subsides, of course, you will be able to pass there.

01:43Local government representatives and parliamentary representatives are expected to be on the ground,

01:49boots on, leading the cleanup efforts.

01:52The Sapero River has burst its bank.

01:55And based on that, we have some flooding at Coconut Drive, Palmis Bend,

02:02and Riverside Drive and those surrounding areas.

02:07So I have spoken, I have updated the relevant members of parliament.

02:11We have just completed a meeting of the Finance and General Purpose Committee meeting of cabinet.

02:17And they are now heading out on the field.

02:20So I know Mr. Dowlett indicated you'll be heading straight down to San Fernando.

02:26Additional mitigation work, she explains, is necessary to keep up with the incidents of river breaches.

02:32Some of this flooding, because it's flash flooding, the water recedes quickly.

02:38But there are quite a few areas that came to our attention during our flood mitigation program that require further work.

02:47So some of it will require collaboration with the Ministry of Works, for instance, the Sapero River.

02:52And we will collaborate with the minister on that.

02:56Arvishi Tiwari, Rabnarai, TV6 News.