New and innovative solutions needed for NP flooding

New and innovative solutions needed for NP flooding
Minister of Public Works Desmond Bannister. (FILE PHOTO)

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Works Minister Desmond Bannister yesterday acknowledged that government must come up with new and innovative ways to address the flooding issue in New Providence as he underscored the impact of climate change on this nation.

Bannister told reporters ahead of a Cabinet meeting yesterday that his ministry planned to make a presentation on the issue.

“We are trying to get people to appreciate that climate change is impacting us really seriously,” he said.

“Initially, we dug wells and we dug wells that were 100 feet deep. This last year the Ministry of Works has deepened those wells 250 feet. Due to climate change, we have rising tides. We have had flooding even though we doubled the size of the wells because the water is coming up now.”

Bannister said that about 50 wells have been dug so far but admitted that “far more complex solutions” are needed.

“We have to have new innovative ways to deal with this challenge,” he said. The Ministry of Works making a presentation to Cabinet this  on some innovative ways that have worked in other countries and we are going to try and see if some of them can work in The Bahamas.”

Flooding has and continues to be a challenge in several low lying communities across New Providence.