Sav councillor Chang pleading for help to clean drains
Published:Friday | October 18, 2024 | 12:10 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU
Julian Chang, councillor for the Savanna-la-Mar division in the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation (WMC), is pleading for assistance from both Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie and the municipality to address drainage issues plaguing her division.
Speaking against the background of past experiences in an interview with The Gleaner, Chang says she is worried that any significant rainfall in Savanna-la-Mar at this time could result in severe flooding, a situation that has resulted in streets and homes being overwhelmed by overflowing drains in the past.
“The current state of our drainage system is unacceptable. During heavy rains, the drains overflow, causing significant flooding in the town of Savanna-la-Mar,” said Chang. “This not only endangers our residents, but also hampers the local economy.”
Chang, a first-time councillor, said the recurring problems with blockages and insufficient maintenance of the drainage infrastructure, which have exacerbated the flooding issue over the years, cannot be allowed to continue.
“Our community deserves better. We need comprehensive cleaning and regular maintenance to ensure the drains can handle heavy rainfall,” said Chang. “I am calling on Minister (Desmond) McKenzie to provide the necessary resources and support to address this pressing problem.”
And as she awaits a response from McKenzie, Chang is calling on the WMC to see what can be done to help clear the drains, pointing out that when the drains are flooded, it affects the movement of commuters and motorists alike on the town’s main street, Great Georges Street.
“I would not want any of my constituents to drown in these drains as we have seen elsewhere where someone drowns in a pothole,” said Chang. “I am petitioning the council to make something available regarding getting these drains cleaned. Some of them are now covered with vegetation, so please answer the call.”
Sixty-one-year-old Louise Samuels, who operates a grocery shop in the Harmony Town section of Darling Street in the Westmoreland parish capital, told The Gleaner that recent flood rains damaged several pieces of furniture in her home.
However, in responding to the concerns about the drains at a recent general meeting of the WMC, Savanna-la-Mar’s mayor, Danree Delancy, acknowledged that there are several drains that need urgent cleaning, and while the WMC is trying its best to address the situation, the corporation does not have the funding to make it a comprehensive effort.
Delancy said that based on his assessment, all 14 divisions in the parish are suffering from drain-cleaning issues, which he sees as a challenging exercise.
“Drain cleaning is one of the most ungrateful exercises any councillor can engage in because you clean today and they fill up again tomorrow,” said Delancy. “Therefore, I keep encouraging my councillors to try and convert some of these earth drains into concrete.”