….Emancipation Day celebrations affected
A high tide and subsequent sharp downpour of rain yesterday morning led to flooding in some sections of Wismar, Linden, where celebrations of Emancipation Day were seriously affected. Just after 6.00hrs, many residents awoke to find their dwelling places under water in the Waterlily Road Poker Street, Dhalia, Haslyn and Gardenia Streets, and the First, Second and Third Alleys in particular.
The flooding was aggravated by clogged drains.

Owner of Paddy’s General Store, which was flooded at 34 Third Alley, Wismar, Daniel Paddy, told this newspapers when we visited where a mopping up exercise was ongoing: “I got up around 8hrs this morning. I knew the rain was falling heavily but I didn’t bother to come down stairs. If I had come down stairs I probably would have gotten some sand to avoid this flood.”
He said, “But I am thankful that things were not worse than it is right now.
He added: “I have been living here for over 40 years, and I have never seen this water come up like this. It is terrible. This is the worst I have ever seen.”
And Royston Hudson, who lives in Waterlily Road and Poker Street, said, “We feel that Lindeners have been neglected, because since November these drains have been dug. Philomena Shury has divided us into sections and gave each section a Chairman, by the proper voting system, and the drains and canals should have been be cleared on a quarterly basis. Last year November was the last time that we had a contract.”
The Poker Street resident, whose bottom flat was flooded, said contract proposals were handed in since January this year. He reported “We know for a fact that for every three months we would prepare a contract proposal and take it in to Regional Chairman Mortimer Mingo. That is the format we have been given. Since early in the year we did this.
Mr Mingo decided one day to let us hear why the contracts had not been signed. He called one Mr Lionel Wordsworth from the Ministry of Agriculture who looks after drainage and irrigation and has the responsibility to give the go ahead for signing of contracts. We heard Lionel Wordsworth saying to Mr Mingo that contracts would not be awarded until further notice.”
Mr Hudson continued: “We then left and went down to Philomena Shury’s office, because there is the place where all these things do come about. Ms Shury said that she would look into it.”
Another resident said that Minister Robeson Benn was informed about their concerns also, but nothing was done to prevent this happening.