KINGSTON Mayor Andrew Swaby has issued a stern warning to residents following last Friday’s heavy rainfall that caused severe flooding in several sections of the Corporate Area: Stop illegal construction along gullies, as unsafe development not only endangers lives but compromises critical public infrastructure.

Torrential rain overwhelmed the capital city’s drainage systems, leading to flash floods that inundated homes and businesses. 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.

“Everything I have to make a life for myself going down the drain,” one resident lamented.

However, 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, Swaby urged both residents and councillors to take responsibility in preventing further disasters, and directed blame at illegal construction along gully banks as a key factor that exacerbates flooding.

“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,” said Mayor Swaby.

He pointed to the dangers of erecting buildings across gullies, saying, “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 aftermath of Friday’s flooding residents of Mountain View said they had previously alerted authorities to the deteriorating state of the Burger Gully, but no action was taken prior to the flooding.

In the meantime, the mayor acknowledged that 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 said the 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 [do]in[g] 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,” he said while stressing the importance of collaboration between the ministry, municipal authorities, and residents to reduce the risk of further flooding and ensure public safety.