Disaster Mitigation Programme Coming for Southern Parishes

The National Works Agency (NWA) is now finalizing a plan to execute critical flood mitigation works in the southern parishes of Clarendon, Manchester and St. Elizabeth.

The planned works are to be done as part of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season preparation efforts.

Manager, Communication and Customer Services at the NWA Stephen Shaw says some 19 million dollars is to be spent to implement the works. The works will include the cleaning of selected drains and the clearing of verges.

Drains in Mandeville, including those along Howard Avenue and Paisley Avenue are to be targeted. In Clarendon, among the waterways that the NWA will be targeting are drains in May Pen, Hayes, Pennants and the Bellas Gate area. Drains in Santa Cruz, Luana and Holland Bamboo are among those to be cleaned in the parish of St. Elizabeth.

Mr. Shaw says that the NWA has over the past 10 months executed a number of projects in the southern parishes, through which road and drainage features have been improved. He says that the completion of these works has added resilience to the road network in that region.

Mr. Shaw is reminding persons to exercise caution in the vicinity of the works and to obey posted warning signs and the instructions of flag persons.

He is also reminding residents, especially in areas that are low lying, to assist in keeping the waterways free of garbage and debris and to take the necessary safety steps, if flooding is being experienced.