Jamaican Mayor says new developments can lead to flooding

Jamaica: During the monthly council meeting of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), Williams noted that the significant drains in the municipality were being cleaned but did not have the capacity to cope with the increased surface run-off coming from the new development projects.  

The Mayor further cited that because of the increased hard surfaces on the new development projects, there is a huge contribution to the increased surface run-off during rainfall. 

He added that the staff of KSAMC should encourage and make the developers aware of the situation.

Following the above statement, the Mayor then noted that, “Any serious or responsible flood reduction and the mitigation measure must examine open space preservation, public or private. Flood plains need to be kept free from development or zoned in such a manner that specifies minimum lot sizes of acres.” 

In the mean time, the Mayor also told the council Tuesday that the KSAMC Engineering Department was helping to create a design to prevent the breach of the river at Nine Miles, Bull Bay that has damaged several houses in recent floods. 

At the council meeting, which took place in October 2020, Mayor Williams had argued for new developments to be regulated in order to make sure that the post-development run-off is not larger than the pre-development run-off. 

 In addition to this, the Caribbean island – Jamaica is all set to welcome its first-ever woman Chief of Defence Staff – Commodore Antonette Wemyss Gorman. Gorman will assume charge as the Chief of Defence Staff next January. She will succeed – Lieutenant General Rocky Meade, who will be retiring after serving for glorious 38 years in the army.   

A ‘media release’ from the Office of the Prime Minister stated that Wemyss Gorman, 48, will be given a promotion to the – rank of Rear Admiral for her appointment as an – army chief. General Meade was appointed as the – Chief of Defence Staff on December 1, in the year 2016.