More problems for Mahaica sea defence

A second area of the brittle Mahaica sea defence has crumbled.

The collapse came two weeks after sand bags were placed as a temporary fix on the dam which protects residents of Mosquito Hall, Mahaica from the sea.

Three days ago, a portion of the seawall caved in. Approximately six feet wide, the hole in the seawall

The large hole at the side of the seawall
The large hole at the side of the seawall
Boulders beginning to crumble at the top of the seawall.
Boulders beginning to crumble at the top of the seawall.

is causing residents of Mosquito Hall to worry about seawater at high tide. The hole has resulted from the seawall being undermined by the force of the waves.

One resident said that she is worried that the entire block of  the seawall where the hole opened up may soon come down and water will consume the community. “When that hole get bigger, ah seawall around that area guh fall down,” a resident said.

When Stabroek News visited the area last Friday, sand bags were seen on the dam that had eroded and residents lamented that  the sand bags and clay employed to reinforce the dam were not enough. However, when this newspaper contacted an official attached to the Ministry of Public Works’, Works Services Group, that official said that works were being done on the sea defence in the area but were temporarily interrupted because of the rainfall. He further said that work was expected to commence at the end of last week.

However, when Stabroek visited the area yesterday, residents said no one has since visited the area to conduct any works. They were eager to find out how long it would take to have a fortified sea defence structure.