– Despite round-the-clock efforts of Public Infrastructure Ministry

THE Ministry of Public Infrastructure has confirmed social media reports that residents from Columbia to Fairfield, Mahaicony, have been affected by the current spring tide. Many of the photos posted online depict flooding in some of the residential areas in the communities.

Since the last spring tide period which ended October 02, the Public Infrastructure Ministry has spearheaded emergency works to arrest the breaches in the Dantzig to Fairfield area. Executing those corrective measures are two contractors – BK International and A&S General Contractors Inc.
To date, more than 6,000 tonnes of stone has been delivered to strengthen the severely impacted foreshore. Already, a 100m of rip-rap sea defence structure was constructed at Fairfield.
The drainage of the Bellamy Canal that runs parallel to the foreshore and the Atlantic Ocean, was prepared with four diesel pumps being put in place to facilitate maximum drawdown.
The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) within the Ministry of Agriculture, led this operation in which two pumps were positioned in Cottage, and the latter in Dantzig. The NDIA also impoldered numerous acres of rice lands to reduce the impact of flooding on residential communities.
However, with much damage to the foreshore after the last spring tide, corrective measures have been hindered by numerous uncontrollable factors. These include limited access to the breached sites due to severe damage of the dam which has resulted in the contractors working progressively inwards from both eastern and western ends of the breaches.
Compounding this were the losses of vital equipment and material when four barges and one tugboat sank at the foreshore while traversing the treacherous waters to deliver much-needed boulders to the critical sites.
Despite these challenge, the government’s efforts continued around the clock to ensure emergency works provide adequate protection from the current spring tide. Additionally, the Public Infrastructure Ministry, through the contractors, are still working along the Mahaicony foreshore.
Through collaboration with multiple ministries and agencies, the government has issued advisories and warning to residents along the coastal belt of Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has also distributed sandbags before the forecasted high tide and continues to monitor the situation. The commission stands ready to assist residents in the affected areas. (DPI)
PIC: Dantzig
Captions: Ongoing emergency sea defence works at Dantzig foreshore.