The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

What has happened over the last few weeks should now more than ever be a wake up call for our country’s parliamentary leaders.

It is time that we make flooding a top priority in this country. Core city neighbourhoods and businesses are dealing with serious drainage issues, and for years it has been widely ignored and swept under the rug.

We need to revise and implement a new coastal management plan.

A major modification and a comprehensive plan is needed to cope with these increased risk of flooding to mitigate its impact where possible.

These flooding issues involve public safety, public health and the large investments people have in their homes. We can either continue down this path, or make a collective re-evaluation of how to manage this issue.

We need to asses the flooding dangers and take actions like other countries have, such as:

• Adding protection like dunes or bulkhead to flood prone areas,

• Add tougher regulations that forbid development in flood prone areas,

• Increase and add more drainage systems to flood prone areas

It is time we do away with the old data. Because it has become quite obvious that this frequent flooding means that the past data is no longer an accurate guide for the future.

While climate change is no doubt a main factor of what we see today, it should not stop us from being more resilient and better prepared. Too many factors, including local infrastructure and properties, are being impacted.

For years, there has been calls for massive restructuring of the city’s drainage system. But it seems like the powers that be are content with just doing cleanup drives and other bandaid solutions.

The flooding is of annoyance to many and placing a maintenance call only plugs the hole temporarily to an ubiquitous problem. It’s not going anywhere until we fully deal with the matter at hand.

We must make bold decisions to address this serious issue.

DR MATHEO SMITH

Principal

Achievers Christian Academy

Nassau, Bahamas

May 31, 2022.