Flooding on the west coast reminds residents of 1995

Some areas in the western part of the island remained under water following a heavy downpour earlier today.

A flash-flood warning issued by the Barbados Meteorological Services forecast excessive rainfall in the north-western districts of Barbados, and heavy showers across the western, north-western and some central districts.

Following torrential showers, Weston, Lower Carlton, and St Silas, all in St James, and Mullins, St Peter, were impassable, causing a heavy back up of traffic for miles, forcing motorists to turn around.

Weston resident, Lennox Chase, said he had not seen that type of weather since 1995 when calypsonian The Mighty Carew, real name Neville Blackman, was washed away in flood waters.

Welcome Stamper, Giles Troulan, who is here from England, said he left home to grab some supplies when the roads became blocked from the flood waters.

Member of Parliament for St James North, Edmund Hinkson, visited Doughlin Road, Weston, where mud made the roads virtually impassable. He said he had asked the authorities to clear upstream during the hurricane season.

“This is a historical problem we’ve had in some of the lower lying areas that we have to deal with. Thankfully, there have been no injuries to anybody as has happened in the late 1990s when we lost the Mighty Carew. We have had no damage to properties. You will see people cleaning out their yards, but no water inside the house,” he said.  (RA)