Whenever they talk about bad weather in Jamaica they talk about climate change. This wasn’t always the case but whenever it rains, especially in the main towns, it takes only a few minutes of consistent rainfall to see signs of flooding. Because of “climate change”, it is more common to associate flooding and landslides with heavy rains and not poorly engineered roads or waterways. The emphasis on “climate change weather” might continue to hide the connection between road infrastructure development and flooding. across the island.
Flooding has been happening across Jamaica all year. In April, May and June this year, major flooding was reported in the parish of Clarendon. A few weeks ago the “downtown area” of the city of Montego Bay in St, James was flooded after one day of rain. The Prime Minister said the flooding in Montego Bay was caused by “intense and unusual” rainfall. In both parishes the National Works Agency (NWA) said “overwhelmed drainage systems” was the cause of the flooding. In September 2016 Marcus Garvey Drive, a major road way under construction by China Harbour Engineering (CHEC) was flooded by heavy rains. In October this year the Mandela Highway, another major road way under construction by CHEC was also flooded. In the case of Marcus Garvey Drive an assessment led by the NWA and the Kingston and St.Andrew Corporation (KSAC) found that “garbage build up in gullies and garbage from expansion work on the Marcus Garvey Drive was the cause of the flooding.
In Clarendon and Montego Bay there were no reported deaths but the exposure to polluted and toxic flood waters must spread diseases and causes health complications. In Clarendon the health department “increased its surveillance for dengue and leptospirosis following the flood rains in April.
The converging effects of poor urban planning, poor infrastructure development, poor civil engineering and climate change are increasing the risk of flooding across the island. We have to find ways of surviving this reality.
amedjafifa 