The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The Government is targeting several sectors of downtown Nassau for “short-term fixes” that may provide “temporary relief” from flooding that has plagued the area for decades.

Senator Randy Rolle, global relations consultant at the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, and who leads the Downtown Revitalisation Project, said in a statement that the Government has already identified several drain blockages it will seek to clear in a bid to immediately ease the situation.

Initial works are due to begin this week to clear debris from the main culverts, and improve drainage flow, with the Ministry of Works and the Water & Sewerage Corporation partnering with the Downtown Revitalisation Project in the effort. A technical team along with the Ministry of Works has begun investigating the long-standing flooding issues, and is in the early stages of finding a permanent solution that would remedy extreme flooding in the downtown area.

Senator Rolle said: “Resolving the downtown flooding issue is a long-term goal, but we have identified some of the key areas where we’ve noticed a lot of blockages. We understand that this is a short-term fix, and it may give us temporary relief.” The effort will focus on Dowdeswell Street, School Lane, Victoria Street and East Bay Street to remediate the drainage blockage. The project will take over a month to complete.

“Resolving the issue of flooding in the downtown area over the long-term requires substantial changes to the infrastructure, and is a matter that we have to work closely with the experts to resolve. This matter will be addressed by the deputy prime minister [Chester Cooper] and his ministerial colleague in public works [Clay Sweeting] for a permanent, long-term solution. But, in the interim, we’re happy that the works currently being undertaken should bring some small relief,” Senator Rolle added.

Once the main culverts have been cleared, the downtown drainage system would undergo quarterly cleanings to help prevent severe flooding.