$756M to deal with POS flooding

File: Flooding in Port of Spain

Cabinet has approved $756 million to help deal with flooding and drainage problems in Port of Spain.

Water resources minister Ganga Singh told reporters on Thursday that the money is from Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Speaking at the post-Cabinet news briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, Ganga said the plan has three components:

1. Drainage works for the critical areas flooded in Port-of-Spain that would include interceptors, drainage systems, detention ponds and pumping stations. This will be done within the sub-catchment areas between the St Ann’s and Maraval rivers
2. Institutional strengthening of the Drainage Division that will address the weak institutional arrangement of the sector, modernise the legislative framework, the IDB document stated. The Drainage Division would become an independent authority within the ministry
3. Creation of a “linear park”

Singh said an inter-ministerial steering committee will guide the programme. 

He added that some of the work is already in progress, in collaboration with the City of Port-of-Spain. This includes installing basic infrastructure on city streets to ensure garbage is put in its place and not in the drains.