Clean-up drive gathers pace across Barbados

Government crews have intensified drain-clearing and roadside clean-up operations across Barbados as the island prepares for Grand Kadooment and the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, with multiple teams deployed to reduce flood risk and improve the appearance of major routes.

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On Thursday, Barbados TODAY observed workers removing bags, plastic containers, wood and other debris from drains along the Mighty Grynner Highway, while another team carried out roadside beautification nearby.

Team leader in the Drainage Division, Justin Bynoe, said the exercise was part of an ongoing islandwide programme focused on clearing blocked drains and ensuring water flows freely during periods of heavy rainfall.

“That’s the purpose of this, to clean the drains and make sure the water course is running correctly,” he said.

Bynoe explained that while the work also helps improve the appearance of roads ahead of the Crop Over climax, preventing flooding remains the main priority.

“And besides the road is for like, you know, I got the Kadooment coming out, and you gotta keep the place looking a certain way, but merely the purpose is to unblock the blockages because a lot of material inside the drains, which is like bags and, you know, cups and crates, wood, a lot of different items that inside the drains that we’re trying to get out so that the water can flow and there won’t be a lot of floods on the road when the rain. You know there’s the hurricane season too, so that’s mainly the purpose to unblock the drains and… to keep your water course clear.”

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Crews have been working in diverse areas, including Two Mile Hill, Bawdens, Belleplaine, Barclays Hill, Spring Garden and parts of Christ Church, with multiple teams deployed at the same time.

“There’s two teams here today. I got five men on my team, and the lady there, she got like the same five.”

Minister of Home Affairs Gregory Nicholls said the country’s hurricane preparedness programme is progressing as planned, with drainage clearance among the activities being stepped up.

He said: “I know that from chairing the Emergency Management Advisory Council, the committee that deals with road clearance and the clearing of the ports have reported that the work is ongoing and is on schedule, so I haven’t had any adverse reports.

“I can see that work is going on. We are going to ramp up a lot of that work now. We can see a lot of drains are being cleared and the usual routine work is being done.”

Nicholls also encouraged members of the public to report areas requiring attention:

“If people again have areas of concern where they need clearing, contact the Department of Emergency Management, and then we will have a discussion as to how we can get those situations resolved.”

Having been involved in the programme for some time, Bynoe said he enjoys the work because of the contribution it makes to the country.

“Honestly, over a period of time I was doing this, and I used to enjoy it. I used to like it. It’s a good programme because it’s helping Barbados. That’s the truth. That is the truth.”