NA Mayor says Stanleytown sluice petition does not reflect reality
…as disagreement brews over renovations
New Amsterdam’s Mayor, Wainwright McIntosh, says a recent article published in a section of the media does not reflect the concerns of residents who are most impacted by a sluice at 51 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
The article alluded to a petition signed by residents, stating that they are in favour of the sluice being rebuilt. However, residents who would be most impacted are not signatories to the petition Mayor McIntosh says.
A contract awarded to rebuild a sluice at 51 Stanleytown has come under focus as residents have objected to the works, saying that the structure is sturdy and there were no defects with the sluice.
They argue that replacing the sluice would result in a less durable structure being built. The sluice was built almost 90 years ago.
Work had been put on hold after the contractor was having difficulty dismantling the structure.
Mayor McIntosh has warned that current excavation work could potentially undermine the structural integrity of the koker and the surrounding roadway
Residents are, in fact, asking for the outfall channel to be de-silted and for internal drains in close proximity to the sluice to be de-silted and reverted.
They proposed redirecting funds for the project to include essential revetment work from Republic Road to the outfalls. Additionally, the illumination of piles within the channel of the outfalls was suggested to facilitate proper cleaning and de-silting.
“To date, we would have requested through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority for the contractor to remove the fender piles that were preventing the water from inland going out into the Berbice River. Over the last weekend period, we would have seen a few of those piles were removed which would have caused the water to remove from inland. Residents were heavily affected as a result of the rainfall over last week,” the Mayor explained.
Mayor McIntosh expressed concern about excavation work carried out on both sides of the koker. He warned that such activities could potentially undermine the structural integrity of the koker and the surrounding roadway.
“We’re asking for the contractor to ensure the excavated dirt is replaced and be compacted so as to prevent the roadway from eroding,” he stated.
McIntosh emphasised that these measures, once fully implemented, will go a long way in mitigating the flooding issues faced by residents.
