Skip to main content

rainy season rain



I must say with all the extreme weather happening around the world we on the Rock are experiencing yet another ordinary, regular ole rainy season. Yes, we will have the troughs, the systems, the waves, all part of the season. Coming on the heels of heavy rain is the annual affair of flooding. This time it seems that the rain has returned to the northern part of the island with a vengeance. Pelting rain for two consistent days and the poor people of the north flooded out again and then again. This was obviously part of the reason that when the Ag. AG ventured into his Constituency today not all the residents were happy to see him. One or two became a bit overwhelmed with the fact that a high official had taken the time to visit with them and proceded to soak him down with the flood water. I do not for a minute condone this type of behavior but after being flooded out twice in as many days one may be a bit frustrated. The fact that the MP was the then Ag. AG may have been overlooked at least for that brief moment. The Ag. AG's comments later on the 7.00pm news I thought a bit unfortunate, as one who has experienced first hand the total destruction that flooding brings with it may not like being referred to as an 'idiot'.
Just like pipe borne water has certain definite elements to it that must be in place for a population to receive a 24/7 supply of potable water flooding has it's own. You cannot expect clogged waterways, garbage strewn drains, blocked rivers, silted up river mouths, no drainage, busted culverts, non-functioning drainage pumps, and a host of other reasons and still have good drainage which would prevent flooding.
People have to be educated, generations have to be educated, broken infrastructure has to be fixed permanently, drainage systems across the Rock have to be reassessed and re-engineered if proven inadequate. Where we live in the Moka Valley, a former citrus estate, there was a spillway instead of a bridge. After further development, this was replaced with a proper bridge. My point is that after years of urban development and sprawl the original drainage systems are not adequate for the runoff and therefore it must be upgraded. Therefore it is not a case of only 'idiots' throwing rubbish into the streets and drains it is the responsibility of Town and Country Planning, Regional Corporations, Ministry of Works to ensure that the drainage is more than adequate. If the systems cannot accommodate rainy season rain then what is going to happen to us in a one in a 50 yr storm? A lot of people being very angry at their MP's.

I am not sure why but we seem to have an obsession with boats. I have seen such vigor and purpose dealing with boats. From captain to cook, everybody is all of a sudden an expert. The one group of people we are not hearing from are the experts. We have had a very checkered past when it comes to the purchasing of marine craft and so the status quo continues. I have always maintained that if you cannot see below the water line then you should not be involved in buying anything marine, there are more than enough experts to deal with that. Each to his own! Remember there are pirates still out there!

Tonight's listening playlist is of course none other than the great Aretha Franklin. Wonderful memories of her powerful voice, soulful, and a great performer. Hope she pulls through!

Tomorrow's forecast calls for very little rain, 10% precipitation.  Let's hope so, people need to get back to their regular routine. A little historical trivia, in August 1851 Trinidad averaged 16.81 inches of rainfall. That equates to 420mm, that was a thirteen year high at the time. Word of advice to MP's, sometimes it's best that you tour your constituency before the rains start, identify the areas of concern and make every attempt to have the situation rectified. Rainy season rain will always bring out the best in people!

Good night fellow citizens of the Great Rock, sleep well tonight, secure your raft and good luck!




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

'aghhhhhhhh'

This week has me feeling so down about the rock and what really is our future. I have always considered myself to be Mr. Optimistic. Things would be bad, sometimes downright terrible with little or no hope and I would be there battling it out. The hard part is our present and future position is all man made [excuse the gender] and it seems that no matter what we do, how we vote, who we put our trust in, it somehow ends up bad. In 1956, the hope was there, a mass appeal, in 1986 it returned and was destroyed by 1990, in 2010 432,026 electors voted for the Peoples Partnership, in excess of 60% of the population. By 2015 a lot of the love disappeared and we found ourselves in a position of no-where once again. I use these years because the popular vote was there, the majority voted overwhelmingly for the winning party. Even though the winner in 1956 did not win by any semblance of a majority, over 80% of the electorate cast their vote. It is interesting to note that in 1956 the PPPG...
1 comment
Read more

the Isle of Spice

We ran away, again, to the Spice Island, for a couple days. Work and play. Our first day there was the day of rain. I have never witnessed steady rain, a bucket a drop, like what we experienced on Wednesday. It started just after 7.00am and continued down to 5.00pm. Of course, the drainage system was put under severe stress and there was substantial flooding in many low lying areas, in addition to landslips on the hills. The videos of a guy on a board surfing on the street was real as was the guy attempting to tie his car in order to prevent it from being washed away. What was very noticeable was the fact that people who had to report for duty did in fact report. We stay at a small hotel and the staff were all present and accounted for. Speaking with other travelers the situation was the same throughout. This morning on leaving the hotel again everyone reporting for duty. Speaking with the GM she said that she had to pick up a couple people who were marooned in their homes, but ...
Post a Comment
Read more

ADD

A great thing happened today. I washed my car and it did not rain. OK, so other absolutely great things made history today, I am sure something was discovered that will change mankind, decisions by world leaders for world peace. None of that is of interest to me because the simple task of washing my car was what was of great import and I marvelled at the sun and dry weather. It is the little things in ones life that give the greatest joy. Tomorrow should be the same with a prediction of only 20% precipitation. Two days with a clean car is good. I am one of those who curse WASA who has leaks on the main roads with spray flying all around and dirtying up my clean car. WASA should have zero leaks, that should be WASA's goal, I don't think that they are interested in any of this as the leaks continue and the complaints from the citizens continue. I remember in the Manifesto of the ruling party a commitment was made to increase the truck delivery of truck borne water. Go figure! ...
Post a Comment
Read more