The Atlantic Ocean yesterday began to overtop a vulnerable section of the Content, Mahaicony, sea defence and the Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson has asked for an emergency meeting to be convened today to discuss a solution.
Stabroek News was told that with an above-normal high tide in effect, waves from the Atlantic Ocean spilled over the sea defence which has been rapidly eroding. This newspaper understands that with the overtopping, the structural integrity of the defence is being further threatened and emergency works are required to prevent a catastrophic breakage.
Patterson told this newspaper that he has scheduled a virtual meeting for 10am today with his team of engineers.
He explained that he too, received a report yesterday afternoon of the overtopping and immediately asked for an emergency meeting to be convened to discuss emergency relief measures.
Yesterday’s high tide was recorded at 3.35 metres while the height of the waves in the open ocean were recorded at peak between 1.5 to 2 metres.
Residents of the community have expressed fears over a repeat of a disastrous flooding, should there be a breakage in the sea defence.
Stabroek News had reported that this vulnerable section puts many farmers and residents at risk even as they are trying to recover from the invasion of saltwater from the last flood in November.
The mangrove fringe and other natural sea defences that were in place have been washed away leaving just a narrow dam, which is now exposed and rapidly eroding. At daily high tides, water from the Atlantic Ocean could be seen spilling over the earthen dam.
Workers from BK Inter-national, one of the contracted companies hired to execute emergency works on the breaches between Dantzig and Fairfield had diverted some materials towards the site where a new breach could possibly occur. It was noted that despite this action, the current stretch still remains vulnerable and immediate works to repair the sea defence must be executed.
Troy Krishna, the engineer on site and who is in charge of the works, had told Stabroek News that his company cannot carry out any further works beyond what is stated in their contract. He explain-ed that a new contract will have to be awarded by the Ministry of Public Infra-structure to cover the stretch that is eroding.
He added that while they have tried to reinforce the sea defence, it warrants immediate attention since it is necessary to completely rehabilitate the eroding area.
During an engagement at the University of Guyana’s 21st installment of its Turkeyen and Tain Talks “Green Building for Resilient Future Cities,” held in November last year, Patterson, announced that $14 billion was needed between 2020 and 2022 to effect “urgent” repairs to 32.9 kilometers of Guyana’s sea defence.
He had explained that if government fails to execute these works, communities across the coast will suffer a fate similar to that of Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.
