MP Lewis tells Gov’t to get its act together, after failure to open levee in time leads to major flooding in parts of Rural West

MP Richard Lewis, representative for St. John’s Rural West, says that
flooding in some areas could have been lessened if the relevant
government agencies had done what is expected of them.

Lewis says the Grays Farm, Donovans, and Perry Bay areas, and
parts of Armstrong Road, in particular, were significantly impacted
by flood waters, and the people are still mopping up and trying to
get their lives back to some level of normalcy.
 
The representative says that issues with the Perry Bay drain
continue to factor into the flooding of the area, and there is serious
neglect by many of the government agencies.
 
According to Lewis, once a storm is expected to make landfall on
Antigua and significant rainfall is forecast, then the levee gate should
be opened so the flow of storm water can run off into the sea.
 
Lewis says he sent reminders to, and spoke with, the relevant
officers, prompting them to open the levee. However, he says, for
some reason, his call fell on deaf ears and the levee remained closed.
 
It was the following morning, Tuesday, October 3, after the tropical
storm had passed, that the gate was partially opened, Lewis charges.
The Opposition MP says it has now become a blame game, with one
government agency denying responsibility for the levee’s opening
and pointing to another.
 
Accordingly, Lewis says the Government needs to get its act
together, because people’s lives could be at risk due to its
negligence.

In addition to the issue of the closed levee, Lewis says some of the
drains were not properly cleaned – a complaint he has been
sounding for months.

He has also called on the authorities to get prepared, given that the
country is in the hurricane season, and posed questions in
Parliament to the minister responsible for the National Solid Waste
Management Authority. And despite all that, Lewis says, the Browne
Administration has neglected the constituency.

Pointing out that he does not have access to government resources
or equipment, the MP says he has been doing what he can. On the
other hand, Lewis says, the Browne Adminstration continues to do
things only for photo opportunities – not caring about the safety or
well-being of the people who live in low-lying areas.
 
Meanwhile, addressing an SOS call from persons who reportedly
were trapped by flood waters on a bridge in the Perry Bay area that
is prone to flooding, Lewis says that residents are familiar with the
drill, once a storm warning has been issued.
 
He says that officials had revealed that between four and eight
inches of rainfall were expected, and once this was known persons
should have vacated the Perry Bay area.
 
However, some individuals decided to ride out the storm, instead of
going to a shelter or getting to higher ground, he notes.
 
Accordingly, the situation that was developed was an eventuality;
but, luckily, no one was injured and the individuals were rescued, he
says.