Good time to start lessons about floods

It is usually accompanied by a back-in-times “playlist” which includes songs about floodgates that were not maintained, rivers that were not dredged, illegal dumping of refuse, abuse of the hillsides, illegal buildings constructed over drains, uncontrolled squatting etc.

Our politician play this game to the hilt with promises to set up commissions of inquiry, aerial surveys from helicopters, distribution of hampers, and snap appearances in knee-deep water well clad in boots.

The reality of the present flooding suggests we have reached nowhere in terms of dealing with this perennial problem.

In days gone by it used to be considered a south/central affair.

A few years ago we saw what floods could do in north Trinidad when the Diego Martin River burst its banks.

If we do not deal with this issue all our efforts at diversification, improving infrastructure etc could be wasted.

As we face the future let us admit we are not prepared for any disaster here.

The opening for public education and for State intervention exists now. There is need for public education. The reality is that given our present practices, if we suffer a serious hurricane the entire country will be under flood waters. If the position of the State is that we have to wait for the waters to subside before the authorities swing into action, then we are all going to die. In a chaotic situation, as exists now, the compensation and support required from the State would be impossibly huge.

The laws for the construction of buildings must be enforced.

Land use practices have to be enforced. Squatters have to learn that it is not in their interest to build in certain areas. People must be educated about the effects of illegal dumping. People have to be shown how their individual actions can come back to haunt them and when they do not learn, law enforcement must prevail.

So the solution is civic responsibility and good governance.

The floods provide a fertile opportunity to start.

SAMUEL LOCHAN via email