Minister of Housing and Water, the Hon. Collin D Croal, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Andre Ally, and a team from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, made an emergency visit to an area aback of Prospect and Covent Garden, where road works to the new Little Diamond housing development, are ongoing. The Ministry received information earlier in the day, which suggests that the ongoing works along the new access road to the Little Diamond New Housing development have caused the slow drainage of water from lands at two points, namely at Little Diamond and Covent Garden/Prospect.

“We will be installing 3ft diameter tubes, which have been donated by the Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, and based on an assessment by NDIA these tubes will bring immediate relief,” Minister Croal said.

Minister Croal explained that in anticipation of the works, and persistent rainfall drainage tubes were installed along the dams and canals however, they proved to be insufficient. He assured, that the engineers will be working around the clock over the next 24 hours to ensure the tubes are installed to bring relief to farmers.

Meanwhile, Intakab Indarjeet- Deputy Director of Projects, at the Central Housing & Planning Authority noted that while the works in the area are contributing to the water accumulation in farmlands, it is compounded by the above-average rainfall being experienced countrywide. Nevertheless, he noted that the Project Department will be making every effort to commence work immediately with the removal of two temporary tubes at Little Diamond which will be replaced with four tubes and an additional three tubes will be installed at the Covent Garden/Prospect site. These measures will aid in the quick drainage of farmlands bring much-needed relief to Mocha and Barnwell North farmers.

Photos: Sydel Thomas CHPA PR Dept.