October 1, 2012
The Director
Drainage Unit
Ministry of Drainage
Pine North-South
SAINT MICHAEL
Dear Sir,
Re: Severe Drainage and Flooding Problems at Lower Carlton and Sion Hill, Saint James During Rainy Weather Conditions
I write this letter in my capacity as the Barbados Labour Party Candidate for Saint James North in the upcoming General Elections. This constituency includes Lower Carlton as well as Sion Hill and their respective immediate environs.
As your Department and Parent Ministry are both undoubtedly aware, the said areas are both subject to very severe flooding and drainage issues whenever a heavy downpour of rain falls, even for a period of just fifteen minutes. This problem has been on-going for a number of years. It has been accentuated, in the case of Sion Hill, by the construction of houses above this area which have diverted the natural course of the water unto the properties of some residents living in this district.
The majority of residents who are affected by these flooding conditions are, understandably, by now totally frustrated by what they consider to be the failure of Government to address this issue and to alleviate this problem.
I have taken notice of the fact that your Department has employed additional workers within recent times in an attempt to buttress the labour force required to address this type of problem nationally. I sincerely trust and hope that this part of Barbados is given priority by your Department in this regard. The quality of life of a large community of tax-paying Barbadians is at stake.
I look forward to receiving your Department’s response as to when you reasonably expect that this matter will be dealt with. I trust that it will be in the very near future.
Yours faithfully,
_______________________
EDMUND G. HINKSON
EGH: mal
Cc. The Minister of the Environment and Drainage
The Honourable Rawle Eastmond, J.P, M.P.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Drainage
The Residents of Lower Carlton and Sion Hill, Saint James