Wheel and come again Minister Sinanan

Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan, do you know Dr. Emru Millette? You recently said, “Unfortunately, in downtown Port of Spain and the western peninsula, no study was ever commissioned for those areas.” This is not true.

In the early 1980s, Dr. Emru Millette created a detailed drainage plan for Port of Spain. This study, commissioned to understand the city’s drainage and flooding issues, identified key problems with the infrastructure. Despite being paid for, the plan was ignored due to political reasons. Millette’s study showed that proper drainage systems were essential to prevent flooding. Because his recommendations were not followed, the city still faces flood problems today.

Evidence shows that Port of Spain’s drainage issues have existed for decades, even before the climate crisis. Two main sources—the Millette drainage plan and analyses by local engineers—show that poor infrastructure, not just climate change, is a major cause of the city’s frequent flooding.

A 2010 editorial in the Trinidad Guardian reported that Engineer Richard Saunders, then President of the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago, called the Millette plan “excellent work” that is still relevant today. He noted that the report is updateable for current challenges but its basic insights are still valid. Winston Riley, then President of the Joint Consultative Council, agreed, saying the plan offers a good solution to the city’s drainage problems if updated for modern conditions.

Other engineers have also mentioned the Millette report over the years. They say it provides a strong foundation but needs modern updates to solve current problems.

Minister Sinanan, your claim that no studies have been done to analyze the flooding issues in Port of Spain is worrying. After nine years, if your government has not found these studies, it is time to rethink your approach to these important issues.

While it’s true that climate change is a factor in recent flooding, ignoring the infrastructure issues is a mistake. The Millette drainage plan and expert analyses show that Port of Spain’s flooding problems are deeply rooted in old infrastructure problems. Fixing these issues requires a comprehensive update of past recommendations and modern engineering solutions. Only by using this joint approach can the city effectively manage future flood risks.

Wheel and come again Minister Sinanan.