The Public Works Department, in the Ministry of Physical Planning & Infrastructure Development, would like to advise the general public that we are aware of the various areas around Providenciales, which experienced high levels of water due to recent rains and that the situation will shortly be addressed through short and long-term strategies.
The Public Works Department, will continue to address the excess silt on the roads, maintain road shoulders and monitor the various wells and drains to ensure that they remain clean and where necessary install additional drainage wells. Contractors are also reminded to create temporary (and later permanent) drainage for all inclined / sloped construction accesses that lead directly onto a public road, in order to avoid contributing to factors that create some of these flood events. Our colleagues at the Department of Planning will make regular site visits during this period to ensure that persons are in compliance with this requirement.
The Hon Akierra Missick, Minister of PPID stated “We confirm that we do have drainage wells in the these areas and plans are in place, including the necessary financial allocations, for desilting programs, including the clean out of existing wells, installation of additional wells, constructing of a retention pond, improve the capacity of the road pumps (where identified), building of road side drainage, installation of culverts, review road levels and implement concrete road edge curbs to direct and assist in the removal of water in a faster and more efficient manner. PPID has undertaken long term measures to address this and other issues through the Transportation and Shoreline Master Plans, and we will also address them through our Public Investment Program Budget, particularly, as we go into the 2022 Hurricane Season. We urge motorists to use good judgment during heavy rains and not to test the limits of their vehicles either.”
The Ministry of PPID as part of its 2022/2023 Public Investment Program Budget, has received approval for a program which will among other things address the drainage challenges on the various islands of the TCI, which US$ 3 Million is budgeted for this financial year.
In the interim, the Public Works Department is doing all that can be done, to ensure that the waters subside as quickly as possible, via the various strategically placed pumps, wells and drains around Providenciales and we thank the public for their patience at this time.
