West Canje to be permanently sealed

Jul 27, 2009 News

LOCABER, WEST CANJE – Rehabilitation work is to commence in the vicinity of a breach at Locaber in West Canje later this week.

According to Region Six Chairman, Zulfikar Mustapha, a $5.4 million contract was recently awarded to B.K. International. The job is expected to wrap up within 10 weeks.

The project would be monitored by the National Drainage and Irrigational Authority in collaboration with the Region Six Administration.

In June, Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, Region Six Chairman, Zulfikar Mustapha, Chief River Defence Officer, Agnes Dalrymple, Chairman of the National Drainage and Irrigation Board, Walter Willis, Guyana Sugar Corporation, East Berbice Estate Manager, Peter Persaud, Region Six Community Development Officer,Faizal Jaffarally and other senior government and regional officials visited the site.

At that time, residents indicated that if action is not taken right away they may suffer losses. Immediate action had to be taken as a short term measure, after approximately 300 feet of the earthen river dam had collapsed as a result of erosion. This impacted on both the cultivation and residential sections; however, no loss was reported back then.

On that occasion, sand bags were placed along with a 320 excavator to assist in protecting both the cultivation and residential sections.