The road construction agency rejects claims its perimeter project caused flooding, but commits to comprehensive study to address chronic water pooling.
Residents of Catherine Hall and West Green staged a protest this week over persistent flooding that has plagued the St James communities since Hurricane Melissa struck last October. The National Road Operating and Construction Company, which is overseeing the Montego Bay Perimeter Road project, moved quickly to address the outcry, with Managing Director Stephen Edwards telling the Jamaica Observer that the construction work itself is not to blame for the water pooling that has forced some homeowners to elevate their furniture.
Edwards acknowledged that the drainage infrastructure in both communities is inadequate and that drains remain clogged with debris. However, he insisted that the obstruction stems from storm damage rather than from the ongoing roadwork. He noted that new drains being installed as part of the perimeter road project have performed well, with dimensions large enough to handle significant water volumes.
While Catherine Hall and West Green fall outside NROCC’s direct jurisdiction, Edwards said the agency plans to address the flooding through a broader hydrological and drainage study covering the wider parish. He cautioned that such a comprehensive solution would require time and careful planning to ensure communities receive effective support. In the interim, project contractors have been assisting with drain cleaning efforts, and Councillor Dwight Crawford of the St James Municipal Corporation has led teams to remove silt buildup from affected drainage sections.
Crawford emphasized that flooding is concentrated in specific areas rather than widespread throughout Catherine Hall, noting that his team had made progress in clearing three particularly problematic zones. He acknowledged the trauma residents have experienced, both from the recent rains and from the community’s long history of flooding predating Hurricane Melissa.
Catherine Hall and West Green have experienced chronic flooding for years, a problem exacerbated by Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that struck Jamaica in October 2025. The communities have faced repeated water pooling during periods of heavy rain, with the latest incident occurring after several days of rainfall in Montego Bay in late September 2026.
This story reflects the ongoing infrastructure and climate resilience challenges facing Caribbean communities in the aftermath of major hurricanes. Catherine Hall’s repeated flooding demonstrates how storm damage compounds existing drainage deficiencies, a pattern common across the Caribbean region where aging infrastructure struggles to manage both routine rainfall and extreme weather events.
Written & Edited by Orlyn Edwards. Published by Caribbean Air Force Media.
Category: News · Island routing: Jamaica