Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John says the government continues to undertake extensive drainage and desilting operations across Trinidad, stressing that recent works in Couva are only part of a broader nationwide effort to reduce flooding.
Over the weekend, the Ministry engaged in desilting works along the Couva Main Road aimed at reducing disruptions caused by flash flooding in the area’s commercial centre.
Speaking to TTT News on Monday, Minister John stressed that interventions are being carried out simultaneously in multiple locations, targeting rivers, riverbanks, and urban drainage systems to improve water flow.
“What is happening, where they were in Couva, it was the central business district in Couva and within five minutes of rain, it floods. So you have to lift up every manhole cover and take out all of that silt, debris, garbage that is thrown, you see, inside of that. And what you’re doing essentially is clearing the drains that the water flows freely into what they call the outfalls, generally to some river or to the sea.”
The Minister said clearing these blockages is critical to preventing rapid flooding, especially in high-traffic urban areas.
She also addressed concerns about traffic disruptions, noting that careful planning was implemented to minimise inconvenience while still ensuring critical maintenance work was completed.
“It was done on Saturday night, starting from 8pm. We sent out the communication team, they sent out our notices in advance. We advised the police, so we take every precaution. And it was on Saturday night and Sunday night. Today, I think the work was probably about 95% complete, so they’ll complete that maybe tonight. But all over, in all the riverbanks, right across the length and breadth of Trinidad, those works are going on for the entire day and sometimes in the night.”
She said the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure is expected to hold a media conference soon on the Ministry’s desilting operations, ahead of the peak of the rainy season.