As the country approaches the May 12 general election, the political future of Myles Laroda in Pinewood may hinge on Pinewood’s stubborn, unresolved reality–flooding.
Laroda, the incumbent for the Progressive Liberal Party, is once again seeking the confidence of voters in a constituency that has long been considered a political battleground. Pinewood is not a safe seat but a swing constituency.
Flooding has persisted for years, disrupting daily life, damaging property, and testing the patience of homeowners who have repeatedly called for a permanent solution. For many voters, it is a personal, immediate and unresolved matter.
The Davis administration acknowledged the scale of the problem. Following severe flooding triggered by Tropical Storm Imelda, Philip Davis, along with Cabinet members including Laroda, descended on the area and pledged action. The government also announced plans for comprehensive flood remediation, with funding earmarked to address the issue.
However, for residents on the ground, the gap between announcement and execution remains a point of frustration. While temporary responses such as pumping trucks have been deployed during a period of heavy rainfall, a long-term fix has yet to materialize.
The political stakes are heightened by the narrow margin of Laroda’s 2021 victory, which was secured by fewer than 800 votes. In such a tightly contested constituency, flooding is a potential electoral point of contention.
The broader question for Pinewood voters is whether anything has been done during Laroda’s tenure to justify another term, or does the persistent issue of flooding signal a change in parliamentarian.