Chief River and Sea Defence Officer Geoffrey Vaughn revealed last night that a sea defence breach in the Canje Creek, caused by unusual spring tides, and which had resulted in flooding in Tucber, Nurseville and Winkel in New Amsterdam, has been sealed andDavid `Shakes’ Christopher the water has receded.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn had reported that 20 feet of works in the vicinity of the breached area was completed yesterday morning, with a further 34 feet remaining. Benn added that further re-supply works will be completed to the dam behind the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) and sand bags will be deployed throughout the affected areas.
“Assessments have been made to the affected areas and they revealed that water is lodged in 24 homes, and a total of 100 homes have water in both the yard and the home. At the end of today (yesterday), the breach will be sealed, and water will recede,” he had promised.
The release said Benn also apologized for the discomfort that is being experienced by those affected and has assured them that his team is working around the clock to have the situation restored to normalcy.
It continued that the Minister also added that “although two other areas were breached this is the only area which has this impact”.
Vaughn in his statement had added that “revetment works to the dam aback NATI will continue, and the contractor is in the preparatory stages of mobilizing materials to execute permanent works to the breached area”.
GINA added in the release that Benn and a high level team comprising Vaughn along with other officials from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), the Region Six Office and the New Amsterdam town council had visited the area and assessed the dam.
