Mahaicony sea defence strengthened
─ “They came fast and sent some machines to fill up the canal” – a rice farmer recalls
─ additional 1,000 tons of boulders placed to secure the breached dam
DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, July 10, 2019
“They came fast! When we report the matter, they came fast and sent some machines to fill up the canal,” said Jailall Cheddi, a rice farmer from Manella, Mahaicony.
Jailall was in praises of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s effort after being alerted about a breach of the embankment at Dantzig, Mahaicony, over the weekend.
Reports surfaced on Sunday that a portion of the sea defence earthen embankment in Dantzig collapsed, resulting in surrounding agricultural lands being inundated by flood waters.
The 125metre breached embankment was today further reinforced with an additional 1,000 tons of boulders. Engineers from the ministry had laid an initial 2,000 tons of boulders to shore up weakened portions of the coastland in Mahaicony. This reinforcement is expected to significantly boost the agricultural community located 44 kilometres east of Georgetown.
While efforts were made to avert a major tragedy, and several farmers are grateful, they still have to deal with the effects of the salt water that was on the lands. “If the saltwater comes in from the sea, it going to damage all the land. The salt is going to be left on the land for long,” farmer Cheddi explained.
Neil Machado, another rice farmer within the area, also spoke of the speediness of the works done after the unfortunate sea defence breach. “They reacted fast. They were very quick. I was pleased with the work. Not much saltwater got in,” farmer Machado recalled.
“So far, I can’t complain,” remarked Sewdyal Naidu, another rice farmer who echoed similar sentiments and praises for the ministry’s intervention. He added that the team “can crown around the land by this weekend or next week.”
The Department of Public Information (DPI) also spoke with Senior Technician within the ministry, Kenneth Hamer who provided an expert’s view on the corrective measures undertaken to date. “The remedial works entail: where there is a complete failure of the earthen embankment, to reconstruct the earthen embankment; place good geotextile fabric and consequently place rock on the fabric,” the senior technician noted.
Regarding Broomhall, Mahaicony, Hamer said temporary works were done to strengthen the sea defence along the vulnerable areas at the coastline. “There were two sections of works completed… At Broomhall – 85metres of riprap work, and there is another section at Prospect, which is 240metres [of riprap structure],” said the senior technician.