Minister promises flood relief by June

Flood waters at St Helena, Cunupia, Caparo and Chase Village were receding  around midday yesterday, causing some relief to hundreds of persons who were marooned in their homes on Monday. The water, which rose to about five feet on Monday, caused widespread damage for homeowners and those who rear livestock. At Chin Chin Road in Cunupia, residents said that up to 9 pm on Monday the flood waters continued to rise, causing some panic. Some homes were still surrounded by water yesterday, while other residents spent the day trying to wash away the slush and debris caused by the flooding. Several of the affected residents said that the flooding is now unbearable and they want immediate relief. A flood advisory issued by the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service at 7 am yesterday advised that the Caroni River continued to rise and the potential for flooding remained high.

Residents within the Caparo River Basin and the Caroni River Basin, especially Madras Road, Kelly Village and St Helena, were advised to exercise caution. Yesterday, Minister of Works Franklin Khan said the embankment works at Caroni greatly reduced flooding in St Helena and certain parts of Kelly Village, Caroni. He expects the routine flooding in Central will be a thing of the past by next year June. Khan added that with respect to the Caparo River, residents will get relief when the Mamoral Dam is built. He added that the problem with the Caparo River is that it passes through Chaguanas, and because several business places were built close to the edge of the river, this was causing problems. Khan added that dredging the Caparo River will cause flooding in Chaguanas. The Mamoral Dam will be built at a cost of $110 million.