Woodland residents fear return of flooding as rainy season begins

Senior Reporter

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Despite being spared major flooding over the past two years, the start of the rainy season has once again left Woodland residents on edge, with many bracing for the losses and inconvenience they endured in previous years.

When Guardian Media visited the flood-prone community yesterday, residents said they were not convinced enough had been done to reduce the flood risk, claiming that major waterways had not been properly cleared ahead of the rainy season.

Many homeowners said they have spent tens of thousands of dollars backfilling their properties and building retaining walls in an effort to protect themselves from floodwaters.

“There is only so much we can do,” said Woodland Flood Group president Kevin Harduar.

He explained, “Backfill, construction work—those who can afford it do it. Those who can’t just have to sit and pray because when the riverbanks fail, which has been the cause of our flooding for the last five years and more, the water from the main river overflows.”

Adding that more than 200 metres of a riverbank is missing, Harduar said the river begins overflowing through the breach when it reaches more than 70 per cent capacity.

“So as soon as the rain starts falling, we go into panic mode because we have no other choice. We just do all that we can to try to prevent the effects of flooding,” he said.

Another resident, Ramdath Sookram, said that despite spending money to improve his property, floodwaters still find their way into his home.

“We do a lot of backfilling, put up walls and thing, but we still get water because the water penetrates from underneath,” he said.

He has also installed sump pumps to remove floodwater from his property.

For resident Tara Jaglal, memories of the devastating 2017 floods still linger.

“I got up in the morning and everything was floating. From 2017 to now, I have been doing work to try to prevent the water from coming into the house, but from that flood I have never been able to recover because in that year we had three floods. It was very devastating financially, emotionally and psychologically,” she said.

Woodland Flood Group adviser Edward Moodie took Guardian Media to the Bhagmania River, where the watercourse is blanketed by thick bushes and dense vegetation.

He said the failure to properly maintain the area’s major waterways is at the root of Woodland’s flooding problems.

Moodie explained that waterways carrying runoff from Moruga, Penal and other communities flow into Woodland, causing the area to become inundated during periods of heavy rainfall.

“But now we are seeing the banks being breached because of poor infrastructure and poor engineering, and this is the fate of Woodland people,” he said.

He added that one river has remained blocked for 60 years.

“Our community group has exposed the root cause of what is causing the water to stay back in Woodland. That outfall needs to be cleared. If we start with that and then move upriver, we will achieve a lot, but that outfall has to be cleared.”

He also said leaking floodgates, caused by the use of incorrect seals, need to be addressed.

While he has met with Works and Infrastructure Minister Jearlean John and other officials on the matter, Moodie said residents are not interested in assigning blame but in working with authorities to find a lasting solution.

However, Penal/Debe Regional Corporation chairman Gowtam Maharaj said work is ongoing.

He said the Coora River has been cleaned and work is underway to remove the defunct floodgate. He added that the Trinidad Point floodgates are now about 80 per cent operational.

Maharaj said cleaning operations are also continuing along the Bhagmania and Coromata rivers, while more extensive engineering works at the New Cut Channel are being undertaken under a separate programme.

When contacted, Works and Infrastructure Minister Jearlean John said works have already been carried out and she has requested further details from the Drainage Division.

A subsequent statement from the ministry said it understands residents’ concerns regarding flooding in the Woodland area and continues to undertake drainage maintenance works across the wider region as part of its 2026 flood mitigation preparedness programme.

The ministry said completed works in waterways serving the area include the Coromata River—a major tributary of the South Oropouche River—between May 4 and June 5; the Coora River between April 25 and May 30; and a segment of the Blackwater River between April 26 and June 17.

It added that additional works scheduled to begin shortly include the Trinidad River and Bhagmania River on June 25, the Mc Cullock Channel on June 27, another segment of the Blackwater River on June 29, and the Quarry into QP Channel on June 29.