Environment impact of unplanned development

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Recent building developments in Kingston have overtaken the ability of its surfaces to absorb the volume of water generated by rain, and it is known by most design professionals, environmentalists, and engineers that open spaces with natural coverings reduce significant run-off of rainwater. The government seems unaware of this correlation.

Design strategies to control storm water run-off must be established and enforced in the building code, because storm water creates a lot of damage to roads and other public infrastructure, as well as risk to pedestrians and motorists, damaging buildings and roads when erosion takes place.

The example of storm water management government buildings, such as the National Works Agency, and ministries of education, labour and finance, to name a few, should be created. These buildings occupy their entire lots and have no means to reduce or eliminate water run-off. Storm water management can be achieved by installing underground retention structures below their car parks and paved areas, and waterproofing their roofs to hold water, with restricting flow roof drains that slow down the volume of water that leaves the roof during a rain event. The government has never created a policy that has given any indication of an awareness of this.

It appears that all the new roads (highways) have been built with no areas set aside for storm water retention along their lengths. These roadways act as tributaries to collect rain and channel it to adjacent properties along the roadway, depending on the terrain, increasing erosion in those areas. Also, people are building along these new roads, clearing land to build, which add to the erosion problem. Water retention ponds, which appear as large depressions along the roadway, remain empty when there is no rain in catchment areas for storm water, holding the water and allowing it to be slowly absorbed to get to the underground aquifers that exist across the island.

Additionally, there has been no attempt to plant trees, making them barren strips of asphalt contributing to the heating of the environment through which they go. The Palisadoes strip could use some trees, maybe not coconut, but perhaps some other hardy plant that can manage the sea air and spray. It is currently a barren strip of land where sisal and ‘duppy cho cho’ seem to be flourishing. Many people go there to walk in the mornings and evenings, despite the dust from the gypsum quarry stockpile and the sewage ponds across the street.

The government seems to be on a path to build for the masses a country of barracks for the working class. Unfortunately, their building types have no provisions for insulating buildings, roof orientation for solar electricity, open spaces for parks for active and passive recreation, or areas set aside for small commercial activities to supplement the community.

This is not appropriate for a developing country, and we must find and elect leaders who are not only aware but engaged in sustainable development practices and live in our communities. Our current government is out of touch with our reality, and we can feel from our lived experience that their inability is creating problems for us financially and socially. We also pay taxes that pay them, who have become an unnecessary expense to us, to maintain our buildings and repair our vehicles and equipment caused by damage, caused by their roads and flooding.

We are too talented and have too much potential to be struggling with people who have no idea what their job description is and whose attempt to describe their jobs falls in the category of a first-form summer essay. No offence to our first-formers, but they will understand when they get to sixth form. Alas, the government has never provided an awareness of these issues and determined that a policy be created to address them.

We must get a grip on our government and environment. It is the solution to many of our problems. The government has demonstrated no intention to deal with either.

HUGH DUNBAR

Architect

Bull Bay, St Andrew

hmdenergy@gmail.com