NWA calls meeting over Big Pond flooding

The National Works Agency (NWA) is to hold a stakeholders meeting tomorrow to discuss plans to end the perennial flooding at Big Pond in St Catherine.

A release from the agency says the meeting will be held at the Davis Primary School in Banister at 4 o’clock in the afternoon.

Big Pond is located along the main road from Old Harbour to Bartons and was one of several corridors in St Catherine that was left impassable for several days as a result of rains between May 13 and 18.

Manager of Communication and Customer Services at the NWA, Stephen Shaw, says there are naturally occurring sinkholes at the location and these sinkholes will be rehabilitated as part of the proposed project.

He says the project will also include the installation of pipe culverts, the upgrading of existing culverts and the widening of sections of the Myton and Fraser Gullies.

It’s to be implemented in two phases and, Shaw says once completed, it should mitigate flooding in Old Harbour and surrounding areas.

He says the project will be funded by the World Bank and is a collaborative effort of his Agency and the Jamaica Social Investment Fund.