Deputy Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has given thumbs up to the performance of Government’s Drainage Unit.
Questioned today about the unit’s performance in light of the extensive flooding across Barbados, Stuart said, “I think the Drainage Unit has performed creditably ever since it has been established. I think generally speaking Barbadians have seen an improvement in the drainage situation but we must not forget that we still live in a Barbados where . . . if there are unusually high levels of rainfall people do not expect it to flood”.
“You cannot always know what the shortcomings of a unit like the Drainage Unit are until you have unusually high levels of rainfall such as we are having now” he added.
But he thought the unit now had “fresh knowledge” at its disposals and was able to go back to the drawing board to see its weak areas and to strengthen itself in those areas.
Director the Drainage Division Keith Barrow said there were some situations that were simply beyond the capacity of the Unit. He said Barbados’ drainage system was “not built for the type of weather we had”.
Here, Deputy Prime Minister Feundel Stuart (centre) and Director of Emergency Services Judy Thomas (left) get a detailed report on the impact of the deluge on the police station from Superintendent in charge of the Northern Division Graham Archer during a tour of the flooded areas.
