Govt approves $460M for emergency works on Mahaicony sea defence

The Government of Guyana through the Finance Ministry has approved a contingency allocation of $460 million for emergency works to be undertaken on the breached sea defence at Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
This was disclosed by the Public Infrastructure Ministry in a statement to the media on Tuesday.

During the recent spring tide period of July 31 to August 4, 2019, a section of the sea defence at Prospect, Mahaicony, was severely eroded, resulting in the intrusion of high volumes of saline water into the Bellamy Canal.
However, close-by agricultural lands have experienced no threats of flooding since the Bellamy Canal Sluice at the Mahaica River was operated during low tides to release excess water stored in the canal.
The Ministry had recently sealed some 125 metres of the sea defence embankment by use of over 5000 boulders after the first breach occurred on July 6, 2019, at Dantzig. In addition to this, emergency flood protection works are also being undertaken to restore other breaches along the sea defence embankment between the areas of Fairfield and Dantzig, Mahaicony.
Chief Sea and River Defence Officer at the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Kevin Samad has since indicated that the team has been facing significant challenges in implementing flood prevention measures. Samad explained that significant degradation of the natural sea defence system along a 3-kilometre stretch of shoreline between Fairfield and Dantzig has occurred over the last six months.

According to him, it has become necessary for a resilient manmade sea defence to be constructed given the complete destruction of the mangrove fringe which has left the earthen embankment in several sections completely exposed to direct wave action. On this note, Samad pointed out that the rainy season also continues to have adverse impacts on the progress of works since the access dams are currently in a deplorable state.
The Ministry in its statement also noted that a 90-feet long heavy-duty timber bridge was recently completed at Dantzig across the Bellamy Canal since the only other access bridge across the Bellamy Canal is approximately 3 kilometres away at Fairfield.
Nevertheless, the emergency works are still ongoing and to date, over 7500 tons of boulders have already been delivered within the Prospect-Dantzig area. The approved monies will be used to undertake permanent rip rap works and to secure other vulnerable sections within the 3-kilometre stretch.
The Ministry of Public Infrastructure also reassured residents and farmers of the Mahaicony area that continuous efforts are being made to monitor the sea defences and interventions are being arranged to expeditiously reinforce vulnerable sections to prevent flooding.