MAY PEN, Clarendon — There is increased concern among councillors in Clarendon as the 2025 North Atlantic Hurricane season nears. This year is predicted to be an active season, but with less intensity than last year.

“If we really are going to have an active season, then there will be problems in my division because some of the farmers are deliberately blocking the drains. They don’t want the water to go near their farms,” said Councillor Trevor Gordon (People’s National Party, Spalding Division).

He is concerned about the high volume of water running on the road due to persistent rainfall and during Thursday’s monthly meeting of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation he asked that garbage collection be improved in the area ahead of the hurricane season.

“The bottles come down and block the drains and as you clean the drains, a couple of weeks after it’s like they were never cleaned,” Gordon explained.

Councillor Romaine Morris (PNP, Mocho Division) is also concerned as there is sometimes flooding in the division because of blocked drains. He asked if there could be a one-off operation where the drains that have been intentionally blocked can be cleared.

“The residents build their walls and it’s hard for us to spend millions to clean these drains. Persons build their perimeter walls and cause the water to stay on the road longer than it should and cause the roads to be damaged,” said Morris.

For Councillor Tanyalee Williams (Jamaica Labour Party, May Pen North Division), the issue is work the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) is doing in May Pen Woods.

“I have been talking about it and lobbying for months. The drain was cleaned, the JPS go in [to] bush their lines, debris go into the drain and block the mouth of the drain; and as soon as it rains, all that debris come there and block the drains. We have seen water rising in that space like never before because of the debris trimmed from the lines.

“I am asking the municipality to write to JPS about those contractors. It also happens on Paisley Avenue where the contractors trim the trees and all the cuttings go in the drains and that is a serious concern going into the season,” she said.

However, Councillor Clive Mundle (JLP, Frankfield Division) had a word of caution for his peers.

“While I agree with my colleagues about the drains being blocked, if you should go and take a good look at them you would find out that if the residents didn’t block them, they wouldn’t have any land left. Some of the houses are being washed out. While we have to take a look at opening them, we also have to look at how we can put in measures to protect their property and their lives,” said Mundle.

In the meantime, Councillor Godfrey Knight (PNP, Toll Gate Division) demanded that the National Works Agency (NWA) be more proactive.

“When it comes to the works agency, areas like Four Paths and Toll Gate suffer immensely. I want to know why NWA wait until the hurricane come and the flooding has started before they send a backhoe out to start to clean the drains. It is not feasible. I would love for you, as the man in charge, to write to NWA asking them to get these drains cleaned. Because you have Jacks Gully, Flemmings Gully and other major drains and for years now, they have not been cleaned,” he appealed to the mayor.

Further up north, Councillor Delroy Dawson (PNP, Aenon Town Division) was concerned about farmers in the area.

“The amount of bamboo in the river blocks the sinkhole… When the water comes it just rise; and we cannot light it. The NWA is responsible for cleaning the river but over the years it’s just when the hurricane coming — like hours before — they send people. But that cannot do. So I’m asking for some attention for the sinkhole at Cane River, Alley Bridge and Aenon Town,” he urged.