Public Works Minister Juan Edghill yesterday told residents of Dantzig, Mahaicony that his ministry is seeking to engage a third contractor to fix the breached sea defence in view of the urgency of the situation
Edghill yesterday visited the vulnerable Mahaicony stretch of sea defence to gain a firsthand understanding of the residents’ plight and to assess the work done to date.
The return of spring tides on Wednesday morning resulted in the flooding of residents’ yards along with pastures and lands used for cultivation.
“I am examining the options of where we can possibly have another contractor come in and do some work swiftly… I have spoken to the PS [Permanent Secretary] to see where we can access funds for emergency (work),” Edghill told residents during a meeting yesterday after concluding his visit to the site of the breach.
Yesterday, the Minister told Stabroek News that he will be taking a proposal for the emergency works to cabinet today for approval and once approved a contractor will be on site within two days.
“The work will not be done by any of the two contractors on site. We are looking to bring on another contractor to do this work to bring quick relief to the residents,” Edghill stated.
He noted that the longer the delay in commencing remedial works on the breached portion of the sea defence, the likelier it is for the cost for works to escalate.
The estimated cost of the repairs is pegged at between $145 and $175 million based on the figures and timeline provided by engineers at the Ministry.
After listening to the concerns of the residents and meeting with the technical team and local authorities, a new route was identified, according to the minister. This route, which is closer to the breach will allow easy access to the site to transport machines and materials, contrary to the previous advice given. The Minister was previously informed that there was only one route available to access the breached area.
Stabroek News was told that the new route identified is located at Content, Mahaicony and was blocked off by a citizen but will now be reopened to accommodate the transportation of materials.
It was first reported that it would have been impossible for another contractor to move into the area since the breach is close to where BK International and A&S Construction are working and given the confines of the single access road.
“As of yesterday morning [Tuesday], there was an additional breach in the very same area of more than 100 meters,” Edghill said on Wednesday during a press conference. He stated that the breach combined with the high tide caused flooding in the area which resulted in a number of residents being severely affected.
During the meeting with residents, a statement from the Public Works Ministry reported the minister as saying that he will not be accepting any further excuses from the contractors BK International and A&S General Contractors Inc carrying out works.
He reminded that the residents are heavily affected and iterated his expectation that the works be completed in a timely manner.
A team from the sea defence department as well as local authority officials, including Regional Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal, were a part of Edghill’s team that visited the area.
Representatives of the Civil Defence Commission yesterday visited and provided cleaning supplies to affected residents.
Jermaine Braithwaite, Project Manager at the Ministry’s River and Sea Defence Department, during an interview with Stabroek News, had explained that the new section highlighted as a concern, was actually outside of the 500 meters that was to be done under the current contract.
Braithwaite said it was an extensive stretch of shore line that was affected by the natural erosion and loss of mangrove. He explained, that even with them engaging contractors to do work in defined sections, additional areas west of those sections have problems, where they are becoming exposed and opening up. He said that the Minister will be taking urgent steps, and has engaged in discussions on the way forward in dealing with the situation. He added that some measures were already put in place as they continue to address budgetary issues.
Previously, Stabroek News had reported that Minister within the Public Work Ministry Deodat Indar, had bemoaned delays in sealing breaches along the Mahaicony shoreline which BK International claims is partly due to a defect in the design provided to the company.
Indar told this newspaper that BK International should have recognised the urgent need for works to be done and begin mobilising the necessary materials and resources for its project at Content, Mahaicony.
Rehabilitation works have been on going on the vulnerable sea defence since 2019.
