The National Works Agency (NWA) says drain-cleaning activities, which started before the emergence of Hurricane Dean, are ongoing.

Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, Stephen Shaw, manager of communications and customer services at the NWA, said drain-cleaning work was primarily concentrated in the north-east parishes.

Mr. Shaw said that, with the rains that lashed the island last weekend, drain cleaning was again done in the parishes of St. Ann, St. Mary, Portland, St. Thomas and rural St. Andrew.

Other parishes

"With that, drain cleaning has continued to take place in all the other parishes as we are in constant communication with our contract tractor operators," Mr. Shaw said.

He added: "This is a part of the ongoing Disaster Meditation Programme that has been in place for the last several weeks."

At the same time, Marcus Garvey Drive, one of the busiest thoroughfares in the Corporate Area, is often flooded when it rains.

A Gleaner team visited the area yesterday and observed a few clogged drains, primarily in the vicinity of Newport West.

Marcus Garvey Drive

Mr. Shaw said recently drain cleaning was done along Marcus Garvey Drive and other areas of Kingston and St. Andrew, such as rivers in the Bull Bay community.

"We know about the situation along that roadway (Marcus Garvey Drive), especially of a particular drain that is nearby Tinson Pen," Mr. Shaw said.

"We did some major work on these drains, recently. But it is quite sad that persons dump garbage in these drains."

For assistance regarding clogged drains: Call 754-9094 (24/7 access telephone line)