The Ministry of Public Works is re-grassing sections of the seawall embankment along the Rupert Craig Highway even as it continues to be challenged by Sunday evening activities that interfere.
Vending and other activities along the wall, particularly between Sheriff Street and Conversation Tree, have caused the vegetation to deteriorate and the ministry had started laying out clay in the patches to re-grass the area. However, the area continues to be trampled.
This was clearly evident after the recent Easter holiday even though small barricades had been erected around the patches that had not been filled with clay. In order to remedy the situation quicker the contractor would need to have more freedom to get the work done as restraining persons from the area may pose a bigger challenge for the division.
Acting head of the Sea and River Defence Division Agnes Dalrymple, in an invited comment told Stabroek News that they continue to face challenges in remedying the situation. Dalrymple said though the patches appear to be very small it is important that the damage be ‘nipped in the bud’ since it could widen if left unattended. The patches are evidence of the wearing away of vegetation that is crucial to sea defence. And if overtopping occurred this would severely weaken the earthen embankment.
Dalrymple said the area is frequented by citizens who want to enjoy the seawalls but as long as the damaged sections continue to be trampled the grass would take some time to grow. “We expected some damage especially since we had the Easter holidays and so had we planted any grass it would have been an exercise in futility,” she said. However, she added that the division was working to have the sections repaired.
Hundreds of persons socialise on the seawalls on Sunday evening and vendors too have flocked to the area to ply their trade. Previously concerns had been raised that the large crowds had become a traffic hazard but the installation of the traffic lights have helped to regularise the situation.
Nonetheless, there is still heavy traffic at the said junction on Sunday from about 5 pm until early Monday morning. A number of local businesses have since partnered and installed garbage bins along the liming area though on Monday mornings a large amount of refuse can still be seen strewn along the embankment.
As regard the recent damage to the sea defence caused by overtopping on the Easter weekend, Dalrymple said no physical work has begun but the ministry was in the process of preparing documentation and mobilizing material so that a contractor can start works. She said remedial work will include repairs to the strip of sea defence stretching from Montrose to Plaisance.
Some sections of the East Coast Demerara experienced heavy overtopping causing flooding in several areas, particularly at Montrose, Vryheid’s Lust and Better Hope. The overtopping also caused severe erosion of the earthen embankment behind the seawall in those areas.
