Corentyne activist claims riprap sea defence at Number 61 damaged
– Regional Chairman demurs
Corentyne activist Gobin Harbhajan has claimed that a section of the riprap sea defence, which was completed in 2021 at the Number 61 Corentyne foreshore in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) is falling apart leaving several farms and residential areas under threat.
He told Stabroek News on Saturday that in 2020 the government awarded a contract for over $460 million for the sea defence, after there was noticeable erosion of the foreshore between Number 59 Village and Number 61 Village. These entrances all lead to Number 63 Beach, which is one of Berbice’s main tourist attractions.
However, Regional Chairman of Region Six David Armogan, addressing the issue on his Facebook page, said that the riprap structure remained stable and in good condition providing adequate flood protection along the Number 59 to Number 61 area, contrary to reports which suggested that the riprap sea defence had washed away, exposing the Corentyne Coast.
Armogan pointed out that the recent changes in the weather pattern has seen a significant lowering of the foreshore along Number 58 Village to Number 62 Village, as a result of the movement of the sandy foreshore deposits (accretion/erosion cycle) which has led to increased hydraulic loading and wave actions on the beach.
“As a consequence, 30 metres of boulder face protection (short slope, not riprap) to the Number 61 beach entrance approach were affected,” Armogan said.
According to information gathered, the Ministry of Public Works had awarded the contract to A&S General Contractors, and the Department of Public Information had said in September 2020 that “residents in Number 61 Village, Corentyne, East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six) can also look forward to the construction of riprap sea defences in Phases I and II.”
Harbhajan, who frequents Number 63 Beach, said that the work was completed in 2021. “The purpose of that sea defence, a riprap sea defence more like a seawall with boulders, is to prevent water from coming into the lower land and a few weeks ago it began washing away from the Number 61 entrance,” he said.
“This is the last bank. If the water rise hard then it gone straight into the areas where the people have the coconut tree and farming then into the residential area.”
According to the activist, he thought that the matter would have immediately been addressed by the local authorities, however, this was not done. As such, Harbhajan said, he took pictures and videos of the breakage and sent them to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.
“I don’t know how they will repair it, but it’s a threat for water to come in,” he said.
“You have dishonest engineers and contractors still exist in this region and across this country and they should be held accountable. Boulders and riprap used in other parts of the Caribbean… are there for decades and this thing don’t wash away. How such a project this big was overlooked and was not reported?”
Meanwhile, the nearby local authority claimed to have been unaware of the situation until it was raised in the media.
However, Harbhajan said that this was unacceptable and urged residents and others to speak out whenever they notice issues
and/or “shoddy works” being carried out.
He pointed out that the Number 61 Village entrance to Number 63 Beach was improved to the tune of $40 million to an asphalt road to allow beachgoers easier access. “But there is a drop for 4 feet and plus you can’t go, you got to turn back. But besides the drop, the water was eating away both sides of the riprap; the right-hand side and the left-hand side,” he stressed.
Harbhajan opined that there are other major projects being carried out regionally and throughout the country where the “government is not getting value for money. [And this will continue] until you have officials and people who sit at this agency and [are] responsible to make sure these work done efficiently.”
The activist further called on councillors, regional officials, and residents to be more “vigilant within your communities. Until we start to call out some of these corrupted people that involve in contracts and other things,” there will not be changes, he added.