Hundreds of business owners and thousands of residents are hopeful that the Government’s new Budget on Friday will include funds to finally fix a decades-old issue that causes severe flooding in Pembroke.

The flooding causes road blockages, traffic jams, damage to property and a substantial loss of business – as much as $40,000 a day, one business owner estimated nearly ten years ago.

The Pembroke Canal runs across the parish all the way to Mill Creek, causing flooding problems along the way.

The public works ministry allocated $200,000 in the 2021-22 Budget to deal with flooding problems in Pembroke.

They announced at the time regular cleaning and maintenance in the canal area, as well as valve and grate upgrades.

But more than eight years ago, officials from Public Works said that the flooding caused by the canal was a “long-term challenge”.

That challenge still exists and there has long been fear that an ambulance in an emergency may be unable to access the injured.

Three years ago, a ministry spokesman said businesses on Mill Creek Road, Pembroke, had been contacted to help find a solution to flooding in the area.

He said: “The private development in this area has contributed to the increased risk of flooding. The ministry is co-ordinating the effort to find a solution which depends on public-private co-operation.”

But this is not just a Mill Creek issue. Several areas of Pembroke are affected, and heavy rains, as seen recently, make Pembroke flooding worse.

Businesses at Bakery Lane have also long-hoped for a solution to their related flooding problem.

Just another low-lying area in Pembroke, the lowpoint collects rainfall, blocking access, and the water is only removed through pumping.

Manning the pump is David Swift of Pembroke Paint Company.

He told us: “We are just trying to protect our businesses. There are a lot of them in the area.

“There is rain contributing to our problem, but there is also an overflow from the buildings and their tanks.

“But flooding is a problem across the parish and a comprehensive solution is needed that will benefit many people.

“The water I am pumping out of Bakery Lane contributes to the canal problems, but without it, the water will just remain there for a long period.”

There has been a government and community effort to clear and dredge the canal.

One of the problems, believes Ed Faries, of Tops Ltd, is the turnover in government engineers looking at this problem.

Tops provides office supplies, office furniture, office equipment and other office products from showrooms at 16 Mill Creek Road.

Mr Faries said the longstanding problem has been frustrating, especially during the spring and autumn.

He said: “The high tides are so high that heavy rains would back the water up and you get flooding on the roads. But it used to drain out. Now, the water is still on the road for days.

“It is ten times worse than 20 years ago, and we get flooding almost every day, now. We never had that even ten years ago. In fact, it has gotten much, much worse in the last three or four years.

He speculated: “The engineers looking at this problem seem to change too frequently. One seems to be here for a year or so and then there is another. There have been several over the years, and without continuity, it is very difficult to make progress.

“The Government has sought a solution, but whenever a new engineer comes in, we have to start the whole thing all over again.”

The latest engineer will consider the near-mile long Pembroke Canal, which overlays Bermuda’s central freshwater lens.

Mr Faries said he has been introduced to him and is hopeful for a solution.