Strong winds topple Penal landmark

RISING FLOOD waters at Barrackpore are threatening to interfere with activities to mark Eid-ul-Fitr today as many villagers remained marooned in their homes for the second consecutive day. Yesterday marked the end of the month-long fast observed by members of the Muslim faith, who are expected to converge at various mosques and other venues to conduct the Eid prayer. The day of Eid involves feasting and is also marked by the distribution of charity.

The Anjuman Sunnat ul Jamaat Association (ASJA) community mosque, and the Trinidad Muslim League (TML) mosque at Kanhai Road were underwater up until midday yesterday. The worst hit areas were at Scale No 2 and Kanhai Road, where the roads were impassable to most vehicles except tractors. PRO Dr Nazam Shah said, “One way or the other  Muslims will celebrate Eid today regardless of flood or not.” Dr Shah said the ASJA board would put mechanisms in place so that Muslims would be able to perform their rituals at the mosque this morning. A 60-foot-tall Samaan tree, a known landmark in Penal, uprooted and toppled yesterday morning during heavy rains. Intermittent showers Friday night worsened the floods at Penal, Morne Diablo and Barrackpore, as waters from the previous day had not yet subsided.

Some Penal villagers remained marooned in their homes, while farmers continued to count losses in their livestock and crops. The uprooted tree, which measured approximately four feet in diameter, destroyed a parlour built on its roots, while the branches crashed onto a bar located on the same premises. Villagers speculated the tree could be over 140 years old. “Since I know myself that tree has been there,” villager Brian David told Sunday Newsday. “That tree was a landmark in Penal. Once you reach the big tree in the junction, you know you reach Penal,” David said. Parlour owner Ricardo Buzz said damage to his small business, which he has been running for the last year, was a great loss to him. “I lost a lot of foodstuff and wares in there. I have to start all over again,” Buzz said, as he looked in dismay as persons began chopping the fallen tree. Sunday Newsday was told the tree, located on the premises of Harry’s Restaurant and Bar, fell during heavy rains accompanied by strong gusts of wind.

Luckily, no one was injured since the business place had closed an hour before. Adesh Ramkelawan and his family at Old Clarke Road have not been able to leave their home in two days because of rising flood waters. Ramkelawan, an hourly-paid pipe-fitter, said he had already lost two days of employment. The father of two said the water rose as high as four feet, flooding a downstairs room causing damage to a refrigerator and washing machine. He said it was the worst flood he had seen in 11 years. Also at Old Clarke Road, Kelvin Dookie and another livestock farmer built a makeshift raft and took to the swollen river in search of cattle that had washed away. With the assistance of a group of youths who were at the river liming, Dookie was able to retrieve 14 cows which were barely alive. “I lost two cattle so my losses are about $3,000 to $3,500. I have not seen such floods here before and it was a real shock to me how the water came up so fast,” Dookie said.  

Chairman of the Penal/ Debe Corporation Allen Sammy said his workers are standing by in case things got worse and families need to be evacuated, as the water is leaving Penal and running off into Woodland Village. Sammy said the Corporation was worried about overflowing pit latrines, but would be able to assist families when waters subside.