Mahaicony sea defence suffers another breach, villages flooded

Another section of the Mahaicony sea defence collapsed again on Monday, widening the breached structure and leaving residents in a state that is completely vulnerable to floodwaters.

A resident in the community, Riyaad Bacchus told Guyana Times on Tuesday that the new breach occurred between Dantzig to Content, Mahaicony, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) – the same area which experienced the last breakage.
This resulted in an overflow of water from the Atlantic flowing onto the lands, thus causing inundation along the villages of Strangroen to Prospect.
According to Bacchus, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) was informed of the breach but they are yet to visit the area. With high tides being experienced currently, the water rose in the morning and afternoon hours on Tuesday – reaching the homes of many worried residents.
Back in October, the sea defence had suffered a major rupture and saltwater from the ocean flooded fertile lands, killing livestock and damaging crops. Moreover, millions of dollars were tallied in losses.
In May, persons in the community had reported that the breach between Dantzig-Fairfield had been extended after another rupture occurred at Content. While the communities were experiencing a low tide, residents expressed worry about rainwater accumulating because of canals that were dug as a defence mechanism.
Bacchus had explained that a canal was later dug on private land to prevent the water from toppling over. However, this failed and they opted to excavate another one alongside the first.
“They build the first one on private land and it didn’t work so they come back and dig another one more inside. So they keep coming in more and more and nothing is being done…There is still no defence since the last one collapse. At first, it was from Dantzig to Fairfield but there was another breach at Content so the situation now keep getting bigger,” he noted.
While this canal setup was done to provide coverage from the pounding Atlantic waves, they said it caused rainwater to collect in the communities, with no course to drain. At that time, contractors could not access the dam to establish a proper structure due to the flooding.
Meanwhile, Neil Machado, who also resides close to Content, had informed this publication, “We will get flood. Last year when the other side got flood, they put a dam by the canal and that hold the water a little. The rain season will be a big concern now too cause after they dig this canal, there is no way this water will get to out to the Atlantic side so all the rainfall water will accumulate in the land. And then you get a threat from the ocean so it gonna be hectic.”
After the last inundation, many farmers would have sold their livestock while others were unable to rebound from their losses. The salty water has also affected the lands, inhibiting any future activities.