Tuesday’s intense flooding is proof of the worsening effects of climate change.

That’s according to National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds, who addressed media while on a tour of the capital city earlier today, to assess the aftermath of the floods.

“It is obvious that man’s conduct, man’s production of various goods and services has been having a very devastating impact on Mother Nature and her goodness. And she’s reacting the way she’s reacting,” Hinds said.

He further added he was pleased to see that drainage infrastructure has made runoff from the floods quicker than in the past. 

“Some pump systems were installed about a year and a half ago. Some work was done from an engineering perspective here (City Gate) and from Wrightson Road end. So we are seeing the water running off and stockpiling in what used to be a pond around City Gate,” the Minister said. 

“…When you get a 45 minute deluge, and it does what it did…then that kind of natural issue is something for all our contemplation. One of the things we have to do, is observe the tenets of environmental protection and it has a lot to do with our consumption patterns…” he added.

Meantime, Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein gave the assurance that once there is heavy rainfall for extended periods, Disaster Management Units from the relevant Corporations would be on the ground to limit the devastating impact.

“We could never be fully prepared, but we have the equipment, we have the manual labor, and we will be out there.” the Minister said. 

The two vehicles which remained lodged in the St. Ann’s River overnight after being swept away by floods, has now been removed by local government emergency responders.