The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

A government study into southern New Providence areas that were severely affected by last month’s flooding, has been completed and details of the project will “soon” be released to the public.

The study investigated the peaks and valleys where water collects in an effort to mitigate further instances of flooding, Khaalis Rolle, Pinewood MP and Minister of State for Investments, explained yesterday.

An “elevation plan” has already been received by the government, he said, however Mr Rolle would not be pinned down on the estimated cost or time-line of what will happen next.

“It’s going very well. We got the initial proposal from the engineer that went out and did the survey for us and he did a very detailed survey,” he said.

“I was very pleased with the work that he did. He had very sophisticated GPS equipment where he went through every single corner, he went up one way and came down the other way, and he presented us with an elevation plan that shows every single square inch of Pinewood and surrounding areas, and the elevation.

“When we looked at the report, we were able to see and it corresponded with the visual that was taken – where the valleys are and where the peaks are in Pinewood – so we saw the actual basis of the problem.”

In view of this “comprehensive” study, Mr Rolle said: “We’re now going through the process of determining how we execute the possible solutions, the possible recommendations, that they believe will provide us some of the relief that we may need.”

When asked how much such as “elevation plan” will cost to implement, Mr Rolle said: “I can’t say that yet.”

And, as for a time-line, he added: “The best I can say is we’re working on it... Remember this problem existed for many, many years – 30 plus years – so like I always say, the destination is equally important as the journey.”

The Pinewood MP also remained mum on the engineer who completed the study. He only offered: “We’ll make a public announcement on that soon.”