ST JAMES, Jamaica — In  preparation for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, the National Works Agency (NWA) says it is has undertaken a major drain cleaning programme across the western parishes of Westmoreland, Hanover, St James and Trelawny.

According to the NWA in a release on Friday, approximately $16 million is being spent to clear several critical drains in flood-prone areas. The project forms part of the agency’s islandwide hurricane mitigation programme.

Community Relations Officer for the NWA’s Western Region, Janel Ricketts, says that among the roadways which are being targeted for drain cleaning are the Peggy Barry roadway in Westmoreland; the Haughton Grove corridor in Hanover; the Barnett to Adelphi roadway in St James; and the Wakefield to Hampden main road in Trelawny.

These are all low-lying areas that have experienced flooding and which the NWA hopes to mitigate through these works.

Ricketts says the latest effort by the NWA to clear critical drains will augment major drainage improvement works which have been undertaken in the western region since the start of 2024.

These works include major road and drainage improvements works along the Jackson Town to Sawyers main road in Trelawny, the Withorn to Darliston corridor in Westmoreland, the Welcome to Cacoon Castle roadway in Hanover, and the Blue Diamond Gully in St James.

“These works were undertaken at a cost of over half a billion dollars,” Ricketts said.