The Sea Defence Unit (SDU) of the Public Works Ministry is expected to commence works on the Stanleytown river defence shortly, as residents of the West Bank Demerara (WBD) community express worry over the situation.
Stabroek News had visited the area three weeks ago and observed first hand, water from the nearby Demerara River seeping through the river defence structure. Water also flowed freely under several sandbags which were placed beneath the structure there by the authorities.
Head of the SDU, Geoffrey Vaughn, told this newspaper that works are planned for the area shortly as the authorities are expected to carry out a selective tendering process in order to select a contractor. He said approximately one kilometre would be addressed and will include the construction of an embankment inland from the present concrete structure.
“We have gotten approval for selective tendering so that contracts could be done… We have an ongoing process and a site meeting planned so by the next spring tide some time in October, works will be done,” he said. He elaborated that works will be undertaken before the Hindu festival of Diwali, a period usually signified by high tide.
He said the area is protected naturally by mangroves as well as manmade concrete structure and the present state of the concrete is known to the authorities. He said that works are usually earmarked for areas considered as priority where gaps are concerned and according to him, “it’s not an area that is neglected”.
A resident of the area, who contacted this newspaper initially as regards the situation, noted yesterday that works were done some time this year and Vaughn noted that indeed some work was done. The resident stated that persons were concerned that with each passing day, the concrete structure continues to develop cracks. He said church goers at a nearby church expressed concerned over the situation and more recently persons in the area took matters into their own hands and plastered cement on critical sections of the concrete structure aback of the church. This was done to stem continuous seepage of water under the structure.
He said residents of the area were prepared to carry out works to the river defence once the requisite permission was given by the authorities. Residents described the river defence as one of the oldest adding that the entire structure was undermined by the water.
When this newspaper visited Stanleytown four weeks ago, residents had expressed concern over sections of the fragile structure aback of the community. They said it had been breached on several occasions, mainly during spring tides.
A resident of the area told this newspaper during the visit that the situation is a disaster waiting to happen, adding that on several occasions this year, the Demerara River has overtopped the concrete structure.
He said a section of the community is consistently flooded and while reports were made to the authorities on several occasions, nothing has been done to remedy the situation. The man lamented too that shoddy work was undertaken at the area as recently as three months ago.
According to a resident who fishes in the area, the concrete wall had broken earlier this year and the authorities subsequently undertook works to stem the breach. He said that while the work proved effective, the works crew did not recognise that the entire structure was fragile.
