Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said strong action must be taken to stop unregulated hillside developments after homes and other properties in the north-west of the country were damaged during heavy rainfall on Saturday.
Homes and vehicles were covered with sludge, while cars were swept away.
“I think we need to relook the legislation and to see how best we can frame that legislation, whether it will include or will not include stiffer penalties but certainly more stringent measures in terms of environmental control,” the prime minister said yesterday as she toured affected communities.
She said the watchdog body – Town and Country Planning – was not functioning effectively and needed more “teeth.”
“For many years we have seen flooding in the low lands and now we’re seeing flooding in the high lands. Therefore we have to give more serious consideration to planning and development and approvals,” she said.
Clean-up crews including members of the Defence Force were out in full force yesterday.
Asked if government would be able to compensate all flood victims, Prime Minister indicated that would not be possible.
“I think it will be totally foolhardy of me and reckless, should I say yes, every single person is going to be compensated,” she said.
“Should we do that, there might not be a cent left in the Treasury,” she added.
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