BELVEDERE--A Belvedere resident is calling urgent attention to the fact that neighbourhood trenches are seriously overgrown with bush, even having trees rooted in them, and calling it “a dangerous situation that has put people’s lives at risk.”
“Belvedere is a basin in which water from all surrounding areas flow,” the concerned citizen told The Daily Herald. “Without these trenches, properly cleared trenches, the district can get overwhelmed with water and the homes there completely inundated.”
The concerned citizen said it was reported to authorities months ago, but not yet to any avail as the situation has been worsening. Although some garbage can also be seen in the trenches, it seems minimal compared to the amount of bush.
“The trench leading to French Quarter, where most of the water flows, is completely blocked. Whole trees have taken root here and other trenches... in Belvedere. The Senior Citizens’ homes are a few yards from this main trench.
“If the water has nowhere to run off, it rises and will flow directly into these home, cutting off emergency services from getting to these homes. Likewise there are homes... that are built right alongside a water trench.”
If the water cannot flow freely, it will rise and flood our homes within minutes, the person said. “All it will take right now is one serious downpour and we will have a life-threatening situation in Belvedere. Why do we have to resort to begging in this country for something basic to be done to ensure quality of life and safety of life for families in these districts?”
Members of other communities, such as St. Peters most recently, have also expressed the same concerns.
Around one month ago, Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI announced that it had published a public tender for the continuous cleaning of trenches, and that the advice of the awarding of the cleaning of the trenches had been prepared.
An advice had also been prepared for repairs of the damaged trench floor in Belvedere, the ministry said.
