RAIN FOR SO!

Motorists were also trapped in the rising water, which was several feet high in Port-of-Spain and environs. The East Dry River was swollen.

The rainy season officially started on May 5 but yesterday the first set of heavy showers pounded Trinidad and Tobago leaving behind extensive damage from the flooding in Port-of-Spain and Central areas.

The heavy rain was said to be normal and the result of a low level trough passing over Trinidad and Tobago.

The meteorological office has forecast above normal rain fall for the next three months.

The cumulative is at 94.1 mm and the forecast for the month of May is 115 mm to 130 mm. The forecast for the remainder of the month indicates mixed isolated showers and sunny periods.

Residents of Enterprise and Cunupia said that they experienced flooding in the community due to the heavy rainfall.

CEO of Port-of-Spain City Corporation, Laraine Alexander, told Newsday she had not received any reports on the flood from the city’s engineer. Alexander said there were pumps in the Sea Lots area for pumping water from the city into the river when there was flooding.

Such work she said falls under Ministry of Works and Transport.

Mayor of Chaguanas, Surugrattan Rambachan, confirmed that Changuanas had been under flood water and they were now seeking assistance from contractors.

"They have pumps, we are operating under a limited budget of $200,000 which is now exhausted," he said.

The pumps would be able to suction silt and debris from the drains.

"We have contacted the Ministry of Works and Transport and there has been neglect on their part and also drainage division," he added.

He said that Caroni Ltd was also asked to clean out the drains in the borough.