Flooding in St. Thomas raises drain concerns and road-use warnings

Hours of heavy rain linked to a trough over Jamaica left parts of St. Thomas waterlogged on Monday, renewing concern about how the public uses and protects road infrastructure during severe weather.

CVM News reported that several sections of the St. Thomas main road were covered by floodwater after prolonged showers. Drivers were forced to slow down in areas where the roadway became difficult to navigate, but some motorists continued at speed, sending large splashes toward pedestrians trying to move through the same conditions on foot.

For those walking, the flooding created added hazards as water covered sections where sidewalks could no longer be clearly seen. Complaints also surfaced about drains being unable to cope with the runoff.

One motorcyclist was shown caught in the flooded conditions, but he was dressed for the rain in protective gear and was able to work his way out and continue travelling.

The rainfall also affected the seven-mile stretch known as the Carpet, on the approach to the parish, where vehicles appeared to be moving through deep standing water. The recently upgraded road has previously drawn criticism from residents and motorists, with concerns raised about the quality of the work and pressure placed on the Government over the condition of the corridor.

The National Works Agency said its early checks pointed to blocked drainage systems caused by nearby construction activity. “Our preliminary investigations are revealing that the drains were compromised by persons who are doing construction in this space and they have dumped sand and gravel near or in some instances inside of the drains, and the debris became some of it at least became lodged in the drains. And so, the drains did not function,” the agency said.

The agency also urged residents and builders to treat public works as shared assets, warning that private construction practices can damage the very roads and drains communities depend on to reach homes, businesses and other destinations.