Gov’t to seal sea defence breaches before next high tide

Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson on Thursday said the ministry’s main focus is to seal the breaches along the Mahaicony’s embankment caused by the recent high spring tides.

According to Patterson, the ministry is working to seal the breaches before the next spring tide on October 26.

Patterson said works should begin once there is no rain; he met with four stone suppliers and five contractors with the necessary equipment and experience for sea defence works.

According to the damage assessment made to the foreshore, it is estimated that 50,000 tonnes of boulders are needed to execute emergency works along the impacted area between Dantzig and Fairfield on the East Coast of Demerara.

One of the breaches is inaccessible but numerous excavators are currently extracting mud from the Bellamy Canal to build a wall behind the existing boulders along the foreshore.

Within the impacted zone, two pumps are being installed to drain water from the Bellamy Canal that runs parallel to the earthen embankment and the Atlantic Ocean.

Patterson also met with residents in Mahaicony Thursday, reassuring them that all of the government’s resources are being directed to ensure the breach is sealed.

It is estimated that 400 households across 65 coastal communities have been affected by flooding due to the sea defence breach caused by spring tide from September 26 to October 2. (Extracted and modified from DPI)