Public Works Minister Robeson Benn says that he expects permanent sea defence works at Mosquito Hall, East Coast Demerara to commence in early March, even as residents continue to feel threatened by the sea.
With the present rainy season, residents of Mosquito Hall are becoming increasingly concerned about their safety.
When Stabroek News visited the area yesterday, residents pointed out pieces of rocks along the inner side of the seawall that broke off as a result of pressure from the high tides. They also pointed out water that had accumulated along the inner sides of the wall. They said that since the rains started, the high tides occur much more often. Resident, Terrence Gomes, who lives right opposite the seawall, said he had hoped that something would have been done to solidify the structure before the rainy season came.
Previously, Kevin Samad, Chief Sea and River Defence Officer, had told Stabroek News that major reconstruction works were scheduled for the area during the 2014 capital programme for certain critical areas. He added that designs were being finalised for projects involving the reconstruction of river defences in the area, to be advertised for public tendering in January.
Benn explained that there is normally a three-week advertising period for public tenders in such projects.
An advertisement for tendering in relation to the Mosquito Hall sea defence project was published in the January 19, 2014 edition of the Guyana Chronicle newspaper
He further stated that after the advertising period, a report will be sent to the Ministry of Finance and then taken to the Cabinet before works can be started.
Benn said that there is no reason for Mosquito Hall residents to panic and he reiterated that there has been no flooding in the area and added that the time span for reconstruction works on the sea defence structure in the area are on schedule.
He said that during high tides, when water comes over the seawall, there is a drain, trench or canal to collect the excess water, which is then stored in the koker until the low tides, when the water can be let out.
The highest tides for the year so far occurred last Friday, according to Benn. But, he said, the high tides, accompanied with heavy rainfalls, mainly affected regions 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8.
“When the high tides come in the night and late afternoons, we does can’t sleep properly because we does be worried. You does feel the vibration when the water hitting the sea walls,” Gomes said. He added that residents are worried that the seawall could one night collapse as he had previously told this newspaper.
So far, the village has not seen any significant flooding. But residents want the Ministry of Public Works to act aggressively on the sea defence structure, especially since it is now the rainy season.
Up to yesterday, workers were seen working on the sea dam area in an attempt to protect the residents of Mosquito Hall but residents said that no works have been done on the seawall, since works have begun on the sea defences in the area.
The works being carried out currently are, however, a temporary fix as Samad previously told this newspaper and they were scheduled to be completed by the end of January.
