DISTURB NATURAL WATER COURSES and expect the wrath of the overflow.

Divert the water into courses you would like it to take other than the only one it ever knew and, like a raging bull, it will destroy all in its way as it ploughs through areas never before visited in search of its ultimate destination.

Thoughts of possible damage that will result if ever there is sustained rainfall across the island are frightening.

There was always flooding in parts of Barbados, when even in its natural and undefiled state, but it has become widespread in recent years through man-made intervention.

Today, there is concern about solving the problem, but reference is never made to the creation or one of the obvious origins, that of laying concrete without regard to drainagethat cannot now be reversed.

In years gone by, the majority of fields were planted in sugar cane, those fields were prepared with cane holes to capture some of the running-off water and top soil; these have disappeared with modern technique and dwindling agriculture.

There was never damage as severe as today's, there were miles and acres of enticing sandy wastelands on the seaside that were serving no other purpose than absorbing some of the run-off.

Tourism's promised sand and sea could notbe presented tarnished; sea discoloured by flood waters takes days to clear so no effort was spared in preserving their integrity.

It will be said we can't have it both ways, there is a downside to every upside; the downside in this case is flooding. I can speak from my experiences in Holetown where I lived for over 40 years.

I have suffered the trauma on several occasions of having to clean up the sediment and debris left behind from floodwater passing through.

Holetown proper is regarded as the area below the Trents and Lascelles plantations; the main outlet for floodwater, called "The River", was under the bridge with a playing field, the swamp, alongside.

In that catchment area, water coming from the hills would accumulate before being forced into the sea by "opening de river mout".

No one can estimate the volume of water that flows through Holetown on these occasions; it is only known that it comes from far afield, as evidenced by the debris found on Holetown Beach following the tragic accident in Lancaster Gully.

Maple Playing Field, once a cane field, is more of a bird pond at these times. The hotel built on what used to be the swamp will never be able to escape the damage brought through its entrance that gapes as though giving direction to the gushing waters.

Over the bridge the already build-up is joined by the downhill flow through Seaview by way of Lascelles Hill; so great is the combined volume that, unable to make its exit faster than it enters,it tarries awhile in the Holetown Methodist Church, surrounding residences and business places in swirling whirlpool fashion.

The little drain on the border that once helped to relieve the burden has now itselfbecome overburdened.

Cries of distress will go up every year in different parts of Barbados never before affected;as it stands there can be no easy or immediate solution. Be careful that in spending millions more on concrete – the situation is not aggravated, one never knows where the uninvited floodwater will turn up next.

It will also be found that suckwells no longer have much of an effect on the volume of water now trapped inland, looking to escape; moreover, cleaning suckwells can be a hazardous occupation.

– LUTHER G. FRANCIS