NWA says Riley River to be cleared of bamboos this week

Western Bureau:

Following another round of flooding which left a section of Lucea, Hanover, under water two weeks ago, the National Works Agency (NWA) says the bamboo-clogged Riley River, one of two waterways being blamed for the inundation, is to be cleared this week. The move would pave the way for a free flow of surface water into the Lucea Harbour.

Janel Ricketts, community relations officer for the western region of the NWA, told The Gleaner last weekend that work will be carried out to clear the waterway, which is located at the eastern entrance to the seaside town, this week.

Ricketts stated, however, that the blockage of the Riley River was not the only cause of the constant flooding.

“The flooding in Lucea is not just limited to the situation at the bridge, albeit the bridge plays a significant factor. Currently, there are two channels that lead to the bridge that need to be cleared, but the key issue is that the area is very much below sea level, so it floods easily,” she stated. “I am told that it (clearing the river of bamboos) is going to be addressed this week.

“For now, it is just a case of having the area under the Riley Bridge cleared to prevent the clogging of the channel, so that is what we have on the table right now ... how to clean and maintain that section,” she added.

Residents and business operators in Lucea have been at their wits’ end over many months, as they have come to realise that unless the Riley River and the Venture Gutter, which run through the town, are properly cleaned, there is great potential for flooding even from normal showers.

While the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC) has, on occasion, used its resources to clear the two troublesome waterways, it has repeatedly made it clear that the NWA is responsible for the cleaning but has been falling short in meeting its responsibilities.

“God help us all in Lucea if a heavy shower of rain should occur in this area, or worst yet, if a storm or hurricane should come,” one businessman told The Gleaner just before the recent flooding. “In previous floodings, we have suffered economic losses, losses in valuable production time, among other various other losses ... only a case of death is left to happen.”

Heatha Miller-Bennett, the newly elected member of parliament for Hanover Eastern, recently told The Gleaner that the clearing of the waterways is on her priority list for urgent attention, noting that she had already started discussions with both the HMC and the NWA.

“This has been a long-standing issue with Lucea. It requires good planning, and so we have met and held our discussions; so, in short order, some work will be done. However, what is really needed is a sustainable, long-term plan to deal with this issue,” she said.

During a previous bout of flooding in 2022, a frustrated Lucea Mayor Sheridan Samuels, citing what he deemed as poor performance by the NWA, said his preferred option at the time was to see the agency kicked out of the parish and its resources turned over to the municipal corporation to take care of the neglected projects.

“My suggestion is to get rid of the NWA completely out of Hanover, phase them out, and we (HMC) take over their responsibilities and their duties, because we have been doing it out by the Riley River and other places within the parish,” said Samuels at that time. “Give us the authority to use the funds that are allocated to the NWA.”

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