Shopkeepers in the commercial heart of Road Town have called for urgent strategic action to help stem the heavy loss of trade caused by regular flooding.
Business owners on Flemming Street, which connects the capital’s two main thoroughfares of Waterfront Drive and Main Street, spoke out after the area was deluged with floodwater again last week during Tropical Storm Ernesto.
The latest surge of water followed flash floods in recent months that have disrupted the usually lively trading strip and brought it to a waterlogged standstill.
Flemming Street was particularly impacted by severe weather at the end of May when floodwaters engulfed parked vehicles and cut off the shopping area from customers.
“We need an upgrade on the drains,” said Everyday Fashion owner Denley Vanterpool. “We’ve been here 20 years and nothing has improved. I know it’s nature — any time there’s a flood, it always affects us — but I think they could do something with the drains.”
To that end, he suggested cleaning the drains more often instead of waiting until the “last minute.”
Sammy John, manager of The People’s Shoe Store, said the Flemming Street area is the “heart of Tortola” and should get better treatment.
“This street should be the top priority,” he said. “We are supposed to have the top priority in Tortola when it comes to flooding. It affects all the businesses here. They have to have bigger tunnels. They should install hydro-pumps.”
Anthony Dennis, owner of Clothes ‘n’ Things, said that at present torrential rain has nowhere else to go.
“They have to sort it out — proper drainage,” he said. “The sea level rises and the drainage going out to the sea is blocked and backs back in. If there is water there for a day or two, nothing can go on business-wise.”
Owner of The Royal Shop, Belal Tarabay, said the impact lasts longer than the floodwaters.
“It’s been three times so far this year,” he said. “Every time it floods, we are flooded out. We have to close down for a whole day to clean up when it happens. It’s a big loss of business.”
Kayed Kayed, of Quick Bargain, said authorities should get ahead of the situation when they know bad weather is coming.
“They need to make sure that the drains are clear,” he said. “This is a low area. The water will drain slowly to the sea as things are. It is so powerful when it flows from the mountains. But when they clear the drains, there is less damage.”
Mr. Kayed said the lack of flood protection is damaging for all businesses in the area.
“The guys are doing their best, doing a good job clearing the roads, but maybe in the future they have to have a big project to make these cuts bigger to take care of this water, because there is a lot of water falling from the hill,” he said.
Climate change impacts
Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley put the territory on alert after the May flash floods that climate change means that such events are on the increase.
Dr. Wheatley claimed at the time that the Virgin Islands is facing an “existential threat” because of the escalating impact of the climate crisis.
He described the May floods as “the second extreme weather event we have had to endure in five weeks.”
He added, “In early May we also had torrential rains and flash floods that affected our infrastructure, particularly roads.”