RADHICA DE SILVA
Senior Multimedia Reporter
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Gulf View residents on Riverside Drive are still battling with the aftermath of a flood that wreaked havoc in the area six days ago.Overflowing with over six feet of water, their properties became flooded with a mixture of sewage and debris that they now struggle to clean.
When Guardian Media visited the scene, residents said they felt abandoned by government officials, accusing both the PNM and the UNC of failing to help.
Gail Boodoosingh, one of the residents, said she and her daughter almost drowned in their basement when the floodwaters broke down a back wall. Still shaken by the incident, Boodoosingh criticized the Disaster Management Unit, Fire Services, police, and local government representatives for their lack of aid."I am so disappointed in government officials. They never showed up. No help whatsoever. I had to do whatever I could to save my stuff," she revealed.
Asked what was the cause of the floods, Boodoosingh admitted that people have been irresponsibly discarding debris into the river.
She said the river is now in a dire state and urgently needed cleaning.
"Places that never before had floods, became flooded this time around," she added.
Meanwhile, Patricia Lans-Zucher, another resident, also suffered heavy damage from the floods.
Showing the stack of damaged appliances and furniture, Lans-Zucher said the invading water breached her walls and inundated her garage, backyard, and lower floor.
"I am very disappointed in all politicians because the river has not been cleared by any government for the past 15 to 20 years," she said.
Showing photographs of the floods, Lans-Zucher revealed that business companies have been encroaching on the river bank since 2010, exacerbating the situation.
She said days after the flood subsided, dead fish and other sediments from the river combined with sewage created an unbearable stench in the community. Speculating that the San Fernando Sewage Treatment plant may have malfunctioned, she called on the government to assist residents with waste removal and sanitation efforts.
When contacted, MP for San Fernando West, Faris Al Rawi, revealed that the Disaster Management Unit (DMU) received a total of 111 reports of flooding in San Fernando, including five from Riverside Drive.
"The Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government, in collaboration with CEPEP, swiftly deployed 250 workers to assist with cleanup and sanitization efforts," Al-Rawi said.
Regarding the foul smell, Al Rawi acknowledged the residents' suspicion about a malfunction at the sewer plant during the flood. However, he stated, "Upon investigation, the CEO of WASA has indicated that there was no malfunction at the sewer plant during the time of the floods."
On the topic of riverbank encroachment, Al Rawi stressed the hazards of building homes on state land adjacent to riverbanks. He confirmed that houses flooded in Coconut Drive Green Acres were indeed built on such land.
"We attended to the residents in person and deployed crews to clean and assist in restoration after the flood," he added.
Al- Rawi pointed out a significant issue contributing to the flood: a resident's bin blocking 80 per cent of the main drains at Riverside Drive, impeding water passage.
"Proper waste disposal is crucial to maintaining a clean and unobstructed water flow, reducing the risk of flooding during heavy rains," he said.
The MP also revealed that the Ministry of Works and Transport recently dredged the river to improve water flow. He assured that they would continue to prioritize cleaning efforts and emphasized the importance of ongoing maintenance to prevent future flood events.Al- Rawi confirmed that the assessment of losses and the settling of claims are ongoing. He promised a comprehensive report once all assessments have been completed, hoping this would bring some resolution to the distressed residents.