MP Lewis says Gov’t departments’ lack of resources is partly to blame for flooding in Rural West

The Browne Administration is being blamed, once again, for the
flooding that occurred in the Grays Farm area on the weekend.
Heavy rainfall deluged most of the island, especially on Saturday,
washing dirt, stones and mud onto the roadways, while uncleared
drains appeared to have contributed to the flooding of several
neighbourhoods.
 
Rural West MP Richard Lewis has been pleading for assistance from
the authorities for several months now, even before the two storms
that hit the country, two weeks apart.
 
Lewis was asking that the gutters and other water courses be
cleaned properly since the Rural West constituency is known for
flooding.
 
However, he says his most recent calls went unanswered, and this
could have accounted for the flooding in Grays Farm on October 28.
 
While he reportedly had been told that Rural West is a priority area,
the Opposition MP says this does not appear to be the case. Instead,
the relevant agencies appear to be paralyzed by the lack of
resources, he says.

Lewis is grateful there was no major damage – with the probable
exception of some vehicles – as a result of the flood. He notes that

the rains stopped at an opportune time and the water was able to
run off quickly.

Meanwhile, Lewis says he recently toured the constituency with
Chief Health Inspector Sharon Martin and quite a few illegal dump
sites were identified. These, he notes, also contribute to flooding in
the area.
 
The MP says he will continue to dialogue with the relevant agencies,
including the National Solid Waste Management Authority, to bring
some relief to Rural West residents for the remainder of the 2023
Hurricane Season, which ends on November 30.