Vending on the seawall along the Rupert Craig Highway particularly on Sunday evenings is causing deterioration of the embankment and the works ministry will soon take steps to prevent further damage.
There are several parts of the embankment that have lost their grass cover which is crucial to sea defence. If there is a high tide this would weaken the earthen embankment.
Hydraulics Minister Robeson Benn told Stabroek News on Friday that the area was being closely monitored along with the damage that is being done and he revealed that his ministry is currently working on a system of payment which would also dictate the length of time, when and where persons would be allowed to vend in that area.
Further, the minister acknowledged that there were certain areas that were stressed and soon the ministry would have to move to barricade these so that the grass could re-grow.
“There will have to be some relief on those areas because some of the patches have gone right down to the rocks, so the matter is being looked at,” the minister assured.
Sea and River Defence Division head George Howard who is currently on pre-retirement leave was contacted on the matter. He told Stabroek News that there should always be a certain amount of grass in those areas since this was important to sea defence. He added that it could be hazardous if a large amount of water coming in at high tide filled those patches for prolonged periods. The earthen embankment would be pressured and subsequently weakened.
“It is of concern but I would not say that it is critical at the moment,” Howard said.
Meanwhile Agnes Dalrymple, who replaces Howard while he is on leave, explained that the area was being monitored continuously. According to her, the engineer in charge of the area submits reports on a regular basis and the matter is being looked at in a detailed manner.
“The issue is being addressed at the level of the division and we are concerned about it,” she said.
She said the Sea Defence board is also concerned about the fact that the vending carts could affect the embankment especially if there is overtopping.
Dalrymple also said that the grass prevented erosion to some extent and noted that with the worn patches it was easier for degradation to take place.
Hundreds of persons flood the sea wall every Sunday evening and this has attracted a number of vendors. This trend developed over the last two years or so. Heavy traffic in the area on Sunday even-ings is also seen as posing a traffic hazard.
A number of local businesses have partnered and established bins for garbage along the liming area. How-ever each Monday morning the area is usually littered with rubbish.
The Pan American Health Organisation and a number of other organisations have erected signs urging persons not to ‘mess up the seawall lime, keep it clean and healthy for all to spend time.’
