– traditional areas least affected by spring tide
Chief Sea and River Defence Officer Geoffrey Vaughn has refuted the Stabroek News article headlined ‘River pounds Meadowbank to Little Diamond’ which detailed that the sea dam at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara was breached.
He noted that there is no breach on the sea dam but the embankment at certain areas is low, due to the activities of the squatters, and need to be raised. There are approximately 30 squatting houses on the sea defence embankment, and these have hampered works. Machines to execute works cannot gain access.
Vaughn emphasised that they should be removed and that notices were served to them, but some are reluctant to leave the area.
He stated that in cases where breaching was reported, officers from the Ministry of Public Works and Communications have inspected them. However, in the majority of cases, there were no breaches.
In relation to Thursday’s Kaieteur News article, focusing on the death of 4,000 chickens belonging to Mr. Nathoo at Corentyne, Vaughn stated that officers are in the field still investigating the matter.
He noted that in that particular area the embankment has not been eroded but it is low.
“It needs to be raised; it’s a case where you have the spring tide period and the embankment overflowed, and water came in,” Vaughn stated.
He indicated that as in many other sea defence districts, maintenance works are being carried out.
“Under the 2010, budget there are other areas that are far worse than that particular area that we are looking at right now, we are not saying that we are going to leave out any area,” Vaughn said.
Currently, one kilometre of embankment work is being executed in Lower Corentyne. “To date, that is one of the contracts that have been recently signed and the contractor has mobilised resources to start raising the embankment,” Vaughn noted.
Strengthening of sea defence structures along the coastline by the Ministry of Public Works and Communications has proven effective. Traditional areas prone to flooding, including Mon Repos, Montrose and Better Hope, Region Four, and Cullen in Region Two have been minimally affected by overtopping caused by the recent spring tide, Vaughn stated.
There are some areas in West Coast Demerara and Leguan, Region Three, that have been affected by overtopping.(GINA)