MINISTER of Rural Development and Local Government Khadijah Ameen launched her ministry's 2025 flood mitigation exercise at Chaguanas Borough Corporation on May 13.
Addressing assembled councillors from local government bodies across Trinidad, she vowed to help co-ordinate all corporations to work together such as by pooling equipment to help avert and curb flooding.
After the formalities she invited all to see a parade of some of the vehicles to be used against flooding such as excavators and dump trucks, whose drivers (including one female driver) she warmly shook hands with as they drove past assembled guests. In her address she lamented that in the recent past, areas had been cleared of dirt which was then piled up nearby, to remain uncollected for another two weeks.
Ameen vowed, "When we move into an area, we will do everything before we move into a next one."
She said public health officers of each corporation have compiled a list of their local watercourses needing attention, and these lists will be circulated to local councillors and MPs for them to add to.
"We will be working with our friends from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Drainage Division of the Ministry of Works."
Accusing the former PNM government of having "failed terribly in maintaining", she said the watercourses would now be the subject of Works Minister Jearlean John being "on the ball."
Ameen named flood-prone areas as Oropouche, Caroni, Caparo, Diego Martin and Rio Claro, plus others.
"The flood mitigation programme has no political hat and no political colour," she promised. "This is a human safety initiative. It is geared to making people's lives better. It is the job of every one of us." Saying flood victims have typically been devastated and traumatised by their experience, she said, "Our job is to comfort people. Our mandate is to ensure there is action."
Ameen recalled devastating flooding in 2018, plus floods in Bamboo in 2022 and in Sangre Grande in 2023. "People were rescued in very dangerous situations. We must not have a repeat."
She alleged years of neglect of TT's watercourses, which she said could not be corrected in just a few weeks time. Ameen therefore advised listeners to make preparations for any worst case scenario, even as the State does its mitigation work meantime.
Ameen lamented past cases of pretty adverts being produced that listed disaster shelters, but with the reality of these often being inaccessible, pigeon-infested or very soon flooded out when waters began to rise. She promised a pilot project for the running of disaster shelters.
This project, she said, would involve setting out standard operating procedures such as opening times, food supply, and identifying who opens the shelter and who liaises with her ministry.
"This is a national call for solidarity. Success depends on you."
Ameen urged all to be sensitive to the needs of flood victims, such as considering their norms and traditions, helping those who became isolated, and equitably distributing aid so that the firs
