 Mr Speaker, permit me this opportunity to extend and to join with the Prime Minister and extend condolences to the family of the bereaved health worker who passed earlier today. Mr Speaker, on Sunday 6 November 2022, St Lucia experienced a serious and unusual weather phenomenon which was caused by an upper-level trough, an isolated incident triggered by low-level moisture in the atmosphere. The Department of Meteorological Services indicated that this low-level moisture in the atmosphere, together with a suddenly wind flow, created the ideal conditions for such an event, which escalated into two hours of torrential rains, concentrated in the north-eastern quadrant of St Lucia, first resulting in flash flooding and destruction of private and public infrastructure. Mr Speaker, though the forecasts for that weekend advised caution in anticipation of scattered showers, thunderstorms and flooding, there could not have been a more precise or accurate prediction in such circumstances in which the wind direction altered towards the north of the island at a given time of day. Mr Speaker, in more recent times and in such circumstances, we have seen a plethora of armchair engineers, self-proclaimed meteorologists and disgraceful politicians, along with their circuits, acolytes and rumour mongers deliberately attempting to fabricate theories intended to misguide the general public. Mr Speaker, following the November 6 flash flooding caused by the unusual weather pattern, the surrogates aided and abetted by the rumour mongering machinery propagated that the cause of the flash flooding was as a consequence of the failure on the part of this government to desilt the country's rivers. Mr Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth, but what can one expect from the strangers of the truth? Mr Speaker, allow me therefore to dispel the fabrication, the lies, the deceit, and the attempts to discredit a government of credibility and transparency. Mr Speaker, let me present the facts on this administration's annual river desilting program for the last three quarters of the years 2021-2021. Following the last July general elections, for the quarter of October to December 2021, the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, the Honourable Philip J. Peer, if I should be allowed to mention his name, conscious of the necessity for adaptation and mitigation measures to cushion the negative impact of climate change, allocated four million dollars to implement a number of programs throughout the country. If I should repeat, following the last general elections of July 2021, for the quarter of October to December 2021, the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, the Honourable Philip J. Peer, conscious of the necessity for adaptation and mitigation measures to cushion the negative impact of climate change, allocated EC four million dollars to implement a number of programs throughout the country. They included improvement to drainage systems, retaining structures, desilting and cleaning up of communities, and sanitation programs in all of the 17 constituencies on this island. This was followed, Mr Speaker, by a second stage, by what we call the pre-hurricane program in May of 2022, undertaken by the Department of Infrastructure and aimed at further clearing waterways, drainage systems on clogging culverts and channels throughout the island. The cost of that initiative was 498,967 dollars and four cents according to the financials and every constituency benefited, government and opposition. Thirdly, Mr Speaker, there was a third program which was implemented in the second quarter of the year, the annual desilting program and that program entailed heavier desilting of the major rivers and waterways throughout the island. The program ran through the quarter as to as recent as September, the value of which was EC two million dollars and again it targeted the entire country. Mr Speaker, I'm obliged to reiterate those initiatives to bring home the point that this administration is a responsible, caring, transparent and accountable administration but further to dispel the lies the fabrication and the propaganda being spread every day of the week by individuals who have absolutely nothing constructive to do at this time. Notwithstanding, Mr Speaker, following the destruction caused by the intense rain and the associated flooding, the Department of Infrastructure has been conducting its reconnaissance to determine the extent of the damage caused to the public infrastructure and the consequential estimated costs of cleanup, cleaning roads, culverts, waterways and removal of slides and debris to reinstate infrastructure and mitigate against future events. Mr Speaker, the approximate cost of the initial cleanup is estimated at 1.4 EC, 1.4 million EC dollars. Mr Speaker, works are ongoing on the cost for reconstruction of roads, retaining walls and bridges and are still pending. To this end, Mr Speaker, our request has been submitted to the Minister for Finance ahead and that request is submitted ahead of the heavy rainfall and the total is approximately $7 million and is still pending. That request has been augmented or rather have been addressed to facilitate for the impact of the rains. Once the resources are identified or mobilized by the Department of Finance, the exercise of the commencement of reconstruction ahead of the 2023-24 budget is absolutely possible. Mr Speaker, in addition to the efforts of the Department of Infrastructure in the immediate response to the rainfall and flooding of November 6, the Department has responded to the citizens and business community of the north of the island, particularly the Labrilocht, Wadawaj, Khorin and Asokanal communities to look forward and deeper beyond the immediate response for adaptation and mitigation interventions which may achieve sustainable resolutions. Mr Speaker, to this end, last Thursday, the 17th November, a delegation comprising representatives of the Wadawaj Commercial Zone, a representative of the Association of Professional Engineers of St. Lucia, a senior private sector engineer, a representative of the Water Resources Management Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, the Zone 1 engineering team, the Deputy Chief Engineer, the Permanent Secretary in the Department of Infrastructure, the Parliamentary Representative for Grozily and myself, Minister for Infrastructure, who toured the affected areas in an attempt to appreciate the conditions on the ground and plan the way forward. The tour was extremely productive as we were able to identify some of the major hazards and determined some potential short, medium and long-term measures to be implemented. To this end, a technical working committee is to be constituted, comprising both the private and public sectors as an initial mechanism to formulate and chart a path forward on medium-term and long-term adaptation and mitigation measures for consideration by the Government. Mr Speaker, an inaugural meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday 23rd November, to commence the technical mission. It is hoped that this multi-disciplinary team will attempt to conduct its activities expeditiously and to advise in a timely manner. However, Mr Speaker, notwithstanding all the potential initiatives and measures that we may institute to adapt mitigation and build resilience, our citizens must change their behaviour and their culture. Climate change isn't the only phenomenon. Dissilting our rivers won't resolve the problem. While adaptation and mitigation aren't the only responses necessary, our citizens must step up to the plate and take responsibility for their survival by changing the negative ways, habits and culture. As a people, we all must take responsibility individually and collectively for our community, the environment and our own well-being. Mr Speaker, the time has come for those who are responsible for the degradation and destruction of our society by the practices to stop. Stop the indiscriminate disposal of garbage, particularly in our rivers, streams and waterways. The last event exposes our nakedness as a people by the volume of solid waste which came down with the flood waters, old stoves, refrigerators, beds, mattresses, cabinets and plastic bottles, all of which exacerbated the situation. Let's stop the rut and stop the indiscriminate disposal of waste into our rivers, rivers and waterways which don't only cause flooding but end up on our beaches and contaminate our coastal waters. I thank you, Mr Speaker.