Following Friday’s heavy downpour, which resulted in flooding in the Corporate Area and other parts of the island, Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby has issued a stern warning to residents to stop constructing along gullies.

Based on assessment, illegal and unsafe developments along gullies and otherwise, not only endanger lives, but also compromise critical public infrastructure and cause flooding.

During his address at a special sitting of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) Council to swear in the newly elected councillors on Monday, September 22, Swaby urged both residents and councillors to take responsibility in preventing further disasters. “Illegal construction along gully banks has worsened the effect of Friday’s heavy rainfall. Residents must take responsibility, as improper practices increase the risk to lives and property. As representatives, we must play a stronger role in preventing and reporting unsafe construction and protecting public infrastructure,” Swaby said.

“I won’t say it was shocking, because we all have seen it somewhere in our divisions, but it was shocking to see a building constructed right across a gully. This is dangerous, not only to the occupants of the building but affects the structural integrity of the bridge and the gully itself, which, if compromised, may result in widespread damage to roads and the structure of the property. I urge residents to be more responsible in the decisions they make, as the life they save might be their own,” he said.

In the meantime, Swaby said climate change and global warming have contributed to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, making vigilance all the more critical during heavy rain.

“While we recognise that weather conditions are an act of God and outside of our control, we must be aware that changing patterns force us to be more vigilant and proactive in ensuring the safety of our residents,” Swaby said.

He also addressed the municipal corporation’s responsibility in maintaining the city’s drainage infrastructure, promising to ramp up efforts to clean and maintain drains, “in a more timely manner”, to reduce the risk of flooding.

Additionally, Swaby revealed that the KSAMC will be reviewing its building practices to promote the construction of buildings in the Corporate Area that are less prone to flooding. “The KSAMC will be reviewing some of our building practices, especially as it relates to permeability and development, allowing more water to be absorbed naturally in the soil. This will also help reduce the risk of flooding. This effort will promote more sustainable urban growth while protecting our community’s high-quality structures,” he said.

Adding to the call for urgent action, Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie, who was also present at the special sitting of council, said his ministry is assessing affected areas across Kingston and St Andrew to determine immediate and long-term interventions.

“We are in the middle of the hurricane season, and I want to say that the Ministry of Local Government is [doing] an assessment of the various areas that have been affected by the rains to see what can be done and how we get it done,” McKenzie said.

On Friday, for example, in Trafalgar Park in New Kingston, at least one resident was flooded out after her house was inundated with water from a nearby gully.

In Mountain View, the Burger Gully overflowed, causing significant damage to properties. Residents reported that flood waters reached window levels, carrying mud and debris into their homes.

Following this, Phillip Paulwell, Member of Parliament for Kingston Eastern and Port Royal, pleaded for the government to make much-needed repairs to the Burger Gully.

“This has been an ongoing problem… We need to get the walls of the gully, the flooring of the gully fully repaired, and then we have to put in place structures that will prevent flooding….We are making a special appeal to the government of Jamaica to assist us in saving lives,” Paulwell said on the weekend.