The government, through the sitting Member of Parliament for Pinewood, has announced a flood mitigation project scheduled to begin in early 2026. Under normal circumstances, this would be welcome news. However, Pinewood residents have seen this play before and they are not fooled. After four and a half years of inaction, an announcement timed on the eve of a general election does not inspire confidence. It raises questions about priorities and intent.
Residents are entitled to clear answers. Why was flood mitigation not treated as an urgent matter years ago? How many versions of this plan exist? And why has Pinewood repeatedly been asked to wait while the same promises are recycled?
In March 2022, a town hall meeting was held where the Ministry of Works presented short- and long-term solutions to address chronic flooding in Pinewood. No meaningful action followed. More than three years later, residents once again endured severe flooding. Had the government acted on those plans when they were first presented, much of that hardship could have been avoided.
Under public pressure, the government returned in October 2025 with another town hall and another presentation. Residents were told the plan was new, despite having heard many of the same proposals before and still, the fundamental questions remain unanswered. What was implemented? What changed? And why is Pinewood still waiting?
The government has now pointed to a $100 million loan facility, with $20 million reportedly allocated for Pinewood. Yet this funding forms part of a broader national project, not a Pinewood-specific initiative. Again, residents have every right to ask whether Pinewood will be treated as a priority or once again pushed aside.
While the government continues to talk, my team and I are already taking action. We have digitized every existing drain in the community and begun assessments that show immediate relief is possible through routine maintenance of infrastructure that has been neglected for years. This is practical work, and we are committed to helping begin these efforts in January.
We have also identified a cost-effective solution with immediate impact. The pond at Pinewood Park can be converted into a retention pond to relieve flooding along Pigeon Plum Street and surrounding areas. The connection is practical, the engineering is straightforward, and the benefits are clear.
The time for talk has long passed. Pinewood does not need another announcement or another meeting. Pinewood needs action. That is the commitment I am making to this community.