In our last post we talked about the threat of bush fires in the dry season, and gave some fire prevention tips.
But as we approach the May-November rainy season, another threat looms large.
With the deforestation that has taken place over the dry season we are bound to see an increase in surface runoff when the rains come. This means more water will be moving much more quickly over the land trying to find its way into rivers and the sea.
Are the waterways in your area ready for the onslaught? Preventative maintenance of the drains and watercourses are essential at this time to reduce the risk of flooding.
Each year blocked watercourses are unable to handle the rush of water from the torrential rains and inevitably homes and businesses sustain financial losses and face the prospect of cleanup and rebuilding.
We all also have to deal with the illness that generally follows when mosquitoes breed in the standing water and spread dengue fever and yellow fever.
So what can you do?
Report overgrown drains and watercourses in your area
Write the CEO local Municipal Corporation or the Councillor for your area, and make a formal request for assistance. Clearly identify the affected drains and watercourses that need to be cleared, as well as any specific concerns (dumping of appliances that may need special equipment in order to be moved, etc).
Make a note of the date you submitted the request, in case you don't get action in a timely fashion and need to escalate.
Follow up on your request
If crews are not deployed to your area to address your concerns, then write a follow up letter to the CEO of the Municipal Corporation as well as your Councillor.
In your note, make reference to the date of your original request, and repeat your concerns.
MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS & THA
Tobago House of Assembly
Administrative Complex
Calder Hall
Tobago, West Indies
Tel. (868) 639-3421
The Ministry of Local Government Head Office
Kent House
Long Circular Road
Maraval
Trinidad, West Indies
Tel. (868) 628-1323/1324/1325 or 622-1979 or 628-1450
Fax. (868) 628-7283
Arima Municipal Corporation
Hollis Avenue
Arima
Trinidad, West Indies
Tel. (868) 667-3508/3435
Chaguanas Municipal Corporation
Cumberbatch Street
Chaguanas
Trinidad, West Indies
Tel. (868) 665-5320/5351/2427/6204 or 671-0576
Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Municipal Corporation
Railway Road
Couva
Trinidad, West Indies
Tel. (868) 636-3875
Diego Martin Municipal Corporation
2-3 Orchid Drive
Diego Martin
Trinidad, West Indies
Tel. (868) 637- 8115/2204/5
Mayaro/Rio Claro Municipal Corporation
High Street
Rio Claro
Trinidad, West Indies
Tel. (868) 644-2261/3760
Penal/Debe Municipal Corporation
Dookie Street
Penal
Trinidad, West Indies
Tel. (868) 647-6302
Point Fortin Borough Corporation
George Road
Point Fortin
Trinidad, West Indies
Tel. (868) 648-2124/2868/2869/0555
Port of Spain City Corporation
Corner Knox and Frederick Streets
Port of Spain
Trinidad, West Indies
Tel. (868) 623-1121-7
Princes Town Municipal Corporation
High Street
Princes Town
Trinidad, West Indies
Tel. (868) 655-2239/2426/2417
San Fernando City Corporation
Harris Promenade
San Fernando
Trinidad, West Indies
Tel. (868) 652-3205/2543-6
Sangre Grande Municipal Corporation
Ramdass Street
Sangre Grande
Trinidad, West Indies
Tel. (868) 668-2461/2488/2322/3410
San Juan/Laventille Municipal Corporation
MTS Plaza
Aranguez
Trinidad, West Indies
Tel. (868) 638-4470/4473 or 675-0255/0280
Siparia Municipal Corporation
High Street
Siparia
Trinidad, West Indies
Tel. (868) 649-2348/2349/2334/1532/9919/2435
Tunapuna/Piarco Municipal Corporation
Centenary Street
Tunapuna
Trinidad, West Indies
Tel. (868) 662-1612/2261/4139
Maybe I missed it, but what about the reminder to maintain drains, property, etc, and to not dump appliances and other matter into rivers? Where's the personal involvement to "keep T&T beautiful"?
ReplyDeleteBy all means, ensure that there's notification of the relevant municipal authorities, but there's also an individual responsibility to maintain property and to dispose of garbage appropriately, which is completely omitted in this piece.
The carelessly discarded bottles, bags, food boxes, (sadly) diapers, prophylactics, tyres and other materials that choke the waterways are thrown from individuals, who are also the ones writing to complain about uncleared drains.
Other things that could be done might be to perhaps arrange an "Adopt a Highway" programme, in which volunteers could clean a kilometer of roadway to ensure that there's a stretch of clear road -- minus choked drains.
How about some community activism that's also community building?