Drainage Concerns Resurface Amid Heavy Rainfall

Frequent flooding remains a pressing issue for Saint Lucia, especially exacerbated by the island’s vulnerability to hurricanes and heavy rainfall. Despite initiatives from the Ministry of Infrastructure, inadequate drainage systems are a persistent challenge, affecting communities including Laborie, Bexon, and Anse La Raye.   Sunday’s rainfall provided yet another reminder of this reality, as videos online showed significant flooding in Laborie village.  Footage captured from the top floor of the police station showed water gushing from the main culvert and spilling onto roads before flowing toward the sea. The rapid inundation highlights the shortcomings in the island’s infrastructure regarding even moderate rainfall management.   Laborie Disaster Community representative Ulric Alphonse confirmed that the area floods quickly during heavy rain but also noted that waters tend to recede just as rapidly.  He attributed recent improvements in flood management to better maintenance by the village council, stating, “The village council takes very good care of that drain. In the past, people living higher up would be dumping waste in the ravine. So when the water flows down, these things would clog the drain and cause the flooding by the police station. But that’s under control now.”   However, the flooding’s recurrence underscores broader systemic issues....