The flooding and erosion at Almond Beach, in Region One, is not a life-threatening situation, according to acting Minister of State Raphael Trotman, who says the government is nonetheless awaiting a report from the team that was sent to assess the area.
“It is not a threat to life or property at this point in time. But what we are seeing is the reoccurrence of a yearly phenomenon and for some reason, obviously natural, this year seems to be more intense,” he said.
A team was dispatched to the affected area on Tuesday and the situation is closely being monitored by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the Region One Regional Democratic Council (RDC).
According to Trotman, the CDC report would aid in making decisions on whether the situation would be treated as another yearly event or if “we should have long term planning to lift the community to higher grounds and help sustain it.”
A week ago, the community began to experience flash flooding as a result of strong waves. The floodwater, which was up to waist height at one point, has since receded some.
“They are currently experiencing abnormal rise in tides and abnormal waves which is why they are flooded. This community is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. Also from what we understand it is a natural cycle taking place. Every 25 to 30 years the beach changes. It erodes and builds somewhere else, so it looks as if that is happening here,” Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley had said.
Due to the erosion, he said approximately 900 coconut trees were lost. The coconut trees are a part of the community’s livelihood. The community is situated close to the famous Shell Beach.
