Officials of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) yesterday visited Harlem, West Coast Demerara where an on-the-spot commitment was given to include that area in the US$30M sea and river defence resilience project, GINA said.
The visit was initially to inspect Crane Mary where approximately one kilometre of sea defence was identified as being in a critical condition. Erosion is severe and has been posing a threat to rice farmers in the area, according to the CDB Portfolio Manager, William Ashby.
However, Ashby found that the sea defence at Harlem is also in a critical state as a result of the destruction of mangroves, resulting in rapid erosion. This prompted him to give an on the spot commitment to include Harlem in the project works.
