-Deem it a willful, dastardly act
COMMENTING on what they perceive to be a willful act, stakeholders all agree that the burning of sections of the mangrove forest at Hope Beach, on the East Coast Demerara is akin to taking a sledgehammer to the walls of the sea defences that protect Guyana’s coastline. Said stakeholders, assisted by members of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), who were lauded for their efficiency and prompt response, were on site at Hope Beach trying to contain the blaze just after midday yesterday.
The fire was reportedly started two days ago, but was contained by the GFS officials. However, it was allegedly ‘ignited’ once more, and made worse by the arid El Niño weather conditions.
While Mr. Trevor King, Sector Head of the GFS, said he will be unable to confirm the fire’s origin until investigations have been done, Chairperson of the Mangrove Action Committee, Ms. Annette Arjoon, who was also on site, told the Guyana Chronicle that some persons are in the habit of dumping their garbage in the mangrove forest and setting fire to it, thereby endangering it.
She noted also that the wood from the mangroves is used for different commercial purposes. “If you were to count, you would find about 20 trees felled… Burning down the mangroves can devastate lives. Persons from the surrounding communities should not continue in this way,” she said.
Arjoon explained that apart from acting as a natural defence against the sea and protecting the coastline, the mangrove forest also serves as a nursery for fishes, and so impacts the lives of fisher-folk. “I am looking for support from the communities to help us monitor this situation,” she said, adding that efforts are also being made to engage persons who make use of the mangrove in alternatives that contribute to their income-base.
Noting that the mangroves at Hope Beach are the black variety, Arjoon said that it is unfortunate that persons would engage in its destruction. Noting also that the current El Niño weather situation makes the mangrove stand a virtual ‘tinderbox’, she said: “It leaves people exposed; people need to understand that, and look at the long-term… without the mangroves, they are vulnerable to floods and they can suffer big losses.”