The Government is intensifying its efforts to manage flooding across Trinidad and Tobago, with a focus on vulnerable areas such as the Caroni River Basin.
Minister of Rural Development and Local Government, Khadijah Ameen, has appealed to citizens to stay alert and play their part in the national flood mitigation response.
In an update this afternoon, Minister Ameen said all relevant agencies were mobilised even before the Yellow Level Alert was issued by the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service, as part of a comprehensive and coordinated response to the country’s flood threats.
“Immediately upon assuming office, the Prime Minister instructed all ministers to have boots on the ground. The Ministry of Local Government launched a flood mitigation programme, which saw all the equipment and resources of all the regional corporations, as well as the Ministry and other agencies, deployed to flood-prone areas to clear watercourses.”
Minister Ameen said additional efforts were brought before Cabinet last week to support long-term flood relief across various sectors, with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.
She said the flood mitigation efforts were further ramped up over the weekend to deal with problematic watercourses and rising floodwaters.
“Based on this level of mobilisation, by the time the yellow alert came in, we were already mobilised and on the ground. So over the weekend in particular, our flood mitigation intensified by responding to areas where water levels were rising, treating with watercourses that had clogs, and so we are in full gear.”
With flood risks still looming, she said residents in affected regions are urged to make full use of available support and stay in contact with local disaster management officials.
“We are also monitoring the Met Office’s advertisements with regards to riverine flooding, based on the river levels from WASA and the Ministry of Works. We know that in the Caroni River Basin, the Caparo River, and a couple other areas, the water levels are very high, so those areas are still on very high alert.”
She urged citizens not to wait until floodwater is at their doorstep, noting that all Regional Corporations have sandbags in stock.
Ms. Ameen added that the Ministry has circulated the telephone numbers and the locations where citizens can obtain them.