Immense work done since December floods

Although there is still more work to be done, the Roads, Buildings and General Services (BRAGSA) has indicated that it has completed immense work in the post December floods restoration process.{{more}}

Since the flash floods occurred last Christmas Eve, teams that were mobilized by BRAGSA have been working to bring the country back to a state of normalcy.

In a press conference on Tuesday, BRAGSA officials gave updates on the work that has been carried in the past three months.

Chief executive officer, Deidre Millington-Myers highlighted some of the major issues that needed to be addressed after the floods.

“It was water, electricity and road access, to ensure that we can get supplies to the persons that were affected beyond the landslides and after that we had to come out and do a general clean-up, which we are still doing,” the CEO said.

Kenyatta Alleyne, the manager of infrastructural services, noted that the efforts of BRAGSA have been nationwide.

“Our deployment spanned from Fancy through all the villages and communities to South Rivers on the Windward coast and essentially from Vermont to Chateaubelair and Fitz-Hughes on the Leeward side of the island,” he said.

While highlighting a list of issues that needed the company’s attention, Alleyne suggested that getting rivers back to a normal state may take some time.

“We can be easily occupied for the rest of the year, trying to put these rivers back where they were and securing the breach points,” the infrastructural manager said.

“We have not completed works in any of the rivers and it remains an ongoing task in any of the stages,” Alleyne said, noting that some areas may be a part of plans for engineering projects for long-term solutions.

During the conference, road maintenance officers in the Leeward and Windward districts gave updates on what has been done in various communities.

Absolom Hooper, who is responsible for areas from the Campden Park bridge to the foot of Soufriere on the Leeward side, revealed that they were able to deploy 32 machines at any one time in response to the relief efforts.

According to Hooper, 49 gangs were mobilized in North Leeward and seven gangs in South Leeward, with over 600 persons being employed.

“I’m grateful for what we have been able to have done as a corporation,” said Hooper, who sees it as his responsibility to ensure that a state of normalcy is met in the country.

“The work is not finished. We still have quite a bit to do.”

Road maintenance officer responsible for the Windward coast Dillon Morris also noted that a number of gangs were deployed in the affected areas.

Morris is also responsible for the idea behind the temporary bridge that was built in seven days, over the Caratal River.

“The Caratal Bridge, after it collapsed, we had to seek a way of getting vehicles – mainly large vehicles carrying load,” he explained, noting the importance of the bridge for trucks that carry sand which is mined at Rabbacca.

“I looked at it carefully and I decided I had another option for us to continue our operations at Rabacca and for the construction industry to be back up and running,” Morris said.

For works that they think they should be doing, Minister of Transport and Works Julian Francis revealed that BRAGSA has estimated approximately $7 million for the time period of December to March.

“I anticipate that BRAGSA will be spending…from December to June, anywhere between 14 and 15 million dollars in road repairs and clean-up,” he said.