Minister of Rural Development and Local Government, Khadijah Ameen, is appalled at the state of the nation’s watercourses.
The Minister has been engaged in tours across the country to assess commonly affected areas as part of her Ministry’s Flood Mitigation Programme.
She said that upon visiting certain flood-prone areas, she noticed that work was done in places that were easily visible, but closer inspection revealed that there was gross neglect.
“From the highway it looking nice but I take the Caroni River, for example, that is the southern boundary of the St. Augustine constituency, and when the farmers take me down in the garden, down to the Caroni River bank and you see the natural erosion that take place over the years. Where the bank is completely eroded, where trees are growing in the river, and you ask yourself, how long that there?”
Minister Ameen added that the degree of neglect that has occurred cannot be remedied in two months, but her Ministry will join efforts with the Ministries of Works and Agriculture to do what can be done immediately.
“Our Minister of Works has also brought to Cabinet, for approval, a comprehensive programme to deal with the major watercourses, and it includes building up the banks of the watercourses, installing and repairing floodgates, as well as ensuring that the pumps are operational.”