'Urgent river-training programmes needed'
published: Wednesday | August 17, 2005

A resident of Yallahs, St. Thomas, views the flow of water under a makeshift bridge in the Yallahs River that has been partially destroyed, while contracted workmen carry out a river-training exercise upstream on July 4. Concerns of flooding by residents have heightened in the face of increased rainfall in recent weeks. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

YALLAHS, St. Thomas:

RESIDENTS OF Albion and adjoining districts in western St. Thomas are calling on the authorities to undertake urgent river-training programmes to prevent a catastrophe at the Yallahs ford.

The residents made the call during a town meeting held recently. They expressed concern about the precarious situation that they have to live in, which does not provide any comfort at all, especially in the height of the present hurricane season.

During the meeting, they asked that the authorities examine the state of the river.

However, Clinton Thompson, the deputy commissioner of mines and geology, urged residents to play a more proactive role through community policing to ensure that illegal mining did not threaten the environment.

- Arthur Green