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Sections of Big Pond in Old Harbour remain impassable following Sunday's heavy rains from Tropical Storm Elsa.

Several cab drivers were seen skilfully navigating their way in the thigh-high water yesterday. For years, residents of Bannister and surrounding communities have been affected by flood waters from Big Pond. Jamar Gaynor said he has stopped purchasing furniture after he lost quite a few items, including a mattress, previously.

"Yesterday (Sunday) the water just run tru and as much as how yuh see di place look bad, a di best it ever be. Mi do mi likkle juggling and sell car parts and see di box soak deh with dem. Mi just haffi sit down and look. When outsiders hear about we situation dem say we must move, but move go where? A here suh mi born and grow," he said.

In January, the National Works Agency (NWA) began drainage improvement activities at Big Pond. Stephen Shaw, NWA's manager of communication and customer services, says that the project, which cost $21 million, was meant to mitigate flooding which usually occurs at Big Pond, and the surrounding areas, after major rainfall events.

Seeking refuge

Gaynor said the pond was recently cleaned and that was what may have prevented him from not seeking refuge on his roof as rain lashed the island on Sunday.

"In ya could a look better but mi can't make it look betta because if mi paint it now, mi nuh know when di rain ago come. Mi just have to wait until mi get piece a land and better come," he said.

Erica Willliams, owner of Muma British Grocery, told THE STAR that she will be unable to catch a sale until the frog infested waters subside.

"I had to restock my shop countless times. Sometimes when yuh look, yuh just see all di soda dem a float go 'bout dem business. The rain nuh over and people always a say why mi nuh lock but mi haffi come out. Mi can't sit down because mi is a woman who don't sit down and depend on man fi tings," she said. "Right now dis water here ago take days fi run off and some frogs in deh whe big like turkey so mi nah run nuh joke."

Despite the flood waters that paid him a visit on Sunday, Jason Williams said things would have been much worse had it not been for the recent cleaning of the pond that sits directly across from his house.

"Usually when the rain fall we would have to move out. Depending on how the sun shine, it may take three days to go down. The only thing really bother us is the frogs that will climb on the wall. This that yuh see here is minor compared to what happened in the past," he said.