Drain issues plaguing Hanover hurricane preparations
Published:Friday | July 11, 2025 | 12:12 AMBryan Miller/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
With over 50 emergency shelters in place in Hanover, and shelter managers identified, the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC) main concern at this time is the slow pace at which the National Works Agency (NWA) is addressing drain cleaning in Lucea.
Lucea Mayor Sheridan Samuels highlighted the issue at Thursday’s monthly meeting of the corporation, noting the drains that flow inside that town and the dangers they pose if they are not cleaned.
The Venture Gutter, the main drain that runs across Lucea, was top of the list. He also spoke to the blockage under the Riley Bridge, which is caused by a pile-up of bamboo. During previous bouts of rain, the bamboos caused the river to overflow its banks, flooding sections of the town.
Cognizant of the danger pose to the town, Samuels is pleading to the Ministry of Local Government to approve the spending of some of the over $100 million it has in its Special Grant Revenue (SGR) fund, which would allow the HMC to carry out some of the remedial and preparatory work that needs to be done.
“If a hurricane should come tomorrow morning, dawg nyam we supper in Lucea,” said Samuels, who noted that there is still remedial work to be done from the passing of Tropical Storm Rafael, in 2024.
“It is very troubling that we are in another hurricane season, and to date, the Ministry of Local Government has not seen it fit to grant approval for us to use our emergency fund to repair the several roads in the parish that were severely damaged by tropical storm Rafael,’ said Samuels, noting that the main thoroughfare from Blenheim (the birthplace of National Hero Sir Alexander Bustamante) to Lances River remains impassable since 2024.
As it relates to the Venture Gutter, Samuels said the HMC had used its own funding to clean and maintain a section of the drain for several months, albeit it that it is the responsibility of NWA.
“If one should look at the state of the Venture Gutter now, it is really a shame, and we have done all that we possibly can to try and keep it clean,” he said. “The last heavy rainfall that took place in the Lucea area, it overflowed its banks because of the condition within that main drain.”
Two weeks ago, Tamika Davis, member of parliament for Hanover Western, told The Gleaner that $2 million has been approved for the clearing of the Bamboo under the Riley Bridge and the Kew Bridge, both located at eastern end of Lucea. She said the work was slated to start in a few days. However, to date, no work has been done.