分类： society

Residents of St Lucy, Barbados, are calling for immediate government intervention following catastrophic flooding that left dozens trapped in their homes and vehicles on Sunday night. The deluge, which saw waters rise up to two feet (610mm) in some areas, overwhelmed local fire services and left families scrambling to protect their properties. Yolande Sobers, a resident of Maycocks Terrace, described the ordeal as “terrible” and “helpless,” recounting how her family’s efforts to pump out the water were futile. Sobers, who lacks flood insurance, praised St Lucy MP Peter Phillips for his on-the-ground support during the crisis. Phillips confirmed that several homes were severely affected, with one tenant losing all her belongings. He emphasized the need for long-term solutions, including the construction of wells and improved drainage systems, to prevent future disasters. Rontae Johnson, chairperson of the St Lucy District Emergency Organisation, reported that her team had been deployed across the parish to assist residents, including pumping out water and repairing leaking roofs. Frustrated by recurring flooding, residents like Ryan Clarke expressed exhaustion over unfulfilled promises of infrastructure improvements. Clarke and others highlighted the stagnant water as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, urging authorities to take immediate action to redirect the water to the sea. The incident has underscored the inadequacy of Barbados’ current infrastructure to handle such extreme weather events, with residents demanding proactive measures rather than reactive responses.

St Peter MP Colin Jordan has dismissed claims of widespread flooding in Speightstown following Sunday’s heavy rainfall, asserting that the town’s central canal performed as intended. Jordan, accompanied by emergency officials, inspected affected areas and praised the canal’s ability to manage the deluge effectively. Constructed after the devastating floods of 1984, the canal was designed to handle extreme weather events, and Sunday’s downpour nearly met its 50-year capacity threshold. Despite high tides slowing water drainage, traditional flood-prone zones remained dry, Jordan noted. He attributed this success to recent government investments in retention ponds along key watercourses, which mitigated runoff during the intense rainfall. The assessment team visited several impacted districts, including Rose Hill and Diamond Corner, where infrastructure and roads faced challenges due to heavy water flow. Jordan highlighted ongoing evaluations by the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW) and proposed additional measures, such as upstream retention ponds and culvert improvements, to address vulnerabilities exposed by the storm. Detailed assessments and further interventions are underway to enhance flood resilience in the region.

Barbados faced its most severe flooding in a decade over the weekend, as torrential rains caused widespread devastation and tragically claimed the life of a 58-year-old St George resident, Terry Kellman. Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams, during a tour of the hardest-hit areas in St Peter and St Lucy on Monday, emphasized the unprecedented scale and speed of the disaster. ‘The damage in the Charles Rowe Bridge area was particularly severe, with multiple vehicles washed away and submerged,’ Abrahams noted. He highlighted that vehicles were swept from as far as St George Parish Church to the junction near Chefette at Charles Rowe Bridge, a phenomenon never before witnessed on the island. The Barbados Meteorological Services confirmed that the sheer volume of rainfall—up to nine inches (228.6mm) in 24 hours—made flooding inevitable, even with the best engineering solutions. ‘The water rushed downhill from higher parishes, and all we could do was mitigate the aftermath,’ Abrahams explained. Despite the tragedy, the minister praised the heroic efforts of emergency responders, including the Barbados Defence Force, Coast Guard, and Fire Service, who worked tirelessly through the night to rescue trapped individuals and recover vehicles. The search for Kellman, who was swept away near Charles Rowe Bridge, involved a coordinated effort across multiple agencies, with the BDF’s drone unit playing a crucial role. Kellman’s body was recovered early Monday, and his family was informed. Abrahams expressed deep condolences on behalf of the government, acknowledging the pain felt by Kellman’s loved ones and commending the emergency services for their relentless efforts.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley has issued a forceful call to Barbadians to confront the escalating challenges of climate change, emphasizing the urgent need for adaptation as extreme weather events become more frequent and devastating. Her remarks followed a visit to Charles Rowe Bridge in St George, an area severely impacted by Sunday’s floods, which tragically claimed a life. Mottley highlighted that the intensity of the downpour underscores the harsh reality of a transformed climate, one that Barbados’ aging infrastructure was never designed to endure. While acknowledging the efforts of the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW) in clearing waterways, she pointed out critical lapses, such as failing to remove debris, which exacerbated the flooding. Mottley stressed that a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s drainage systems cannot be achieved overnight, citing similar challenges faced by neighboring Caribbean nations like Jamaica, Grenada, and St Vincent. She reiterated her international advocacy for climate financing, emphasizing that Barbados, despite its minimal contribution to global emissions, is disproportionately affected by climate-driven threats such as flooding, drought, and sargassum. Mottley warned that even brief periods of heavy rainfall now pose significant risks, urging citizens to embrace a new reality where adaptation is paramount. She differentiated between mitigation—preventing further temperature rises—and adaptation—changing lifestyles and infrastructure to minimize damage and loss of life. Mottley’s message was clear: Barbados must prioritize adaptation to safeguard its future in an increasingly unpredictable climate.

In the wake of devastating weekend rains that inundated parts of Barbados, Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw has pledged swift and decisive action to address long-standing flood issues across the island. The record-breaking rainfall, which left homes and roads submerged, highlighted persistent vulnerabilities in several communities. Bradshaw assured residents that the government is taking their concerns seriously and has already advanced major flood mitigation projects to the construction phase.

Farmers in St Lucy, Barbados, are grappling with severe crop losses following relentless heavy rains and flash floods that inundated farmlands from Sunday night into Monday. The timing of this disaster is particularly devastating, as it occurred just weeks before the crucial Christmas harvest season. Hamilton Corbin, president of the St Lucy Farmers’ Association, reported visiting five farms submerged in water, with crops at high risk of rotting. He emphasized the significant setback for farmers who had been anticipating a prosperous yield during the festive period. Corbin detailed the extent of the damage, noting that crops such as cucumbers, sweet peppers, melons, and onions were either destroyed or severely compromised. Even crops not entirely lost may not survive due to prolonged submersion, which exposes them to harmful fungi and bacteria. Farmers are also deeply concerned about their holiday income, as the loss of crops threatens not only their livelihoods but also the earnings of their employees. Corbin expressed hope for government assistance, describing it as “much-deserved help.” In response, the Ministry of Agriculture reaffirmed its commitment to supporting affected farmers. Acting Chief Agricultural Officer Michael James urged farmers to report their losses promptly to expedite damage assessment and aid distribution. The government aims to act swiftly to mitigate the impact of this agricultural crisis.