Sea defence breach affects business, residents at Vreed en Hoop

Apr 19, 2011 News

Breaches in the sea defence at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara have irked residents and business people in the area of the most recent breach yesterday.
A tour from the junction of Vreed-en-Hoop to the stelling revealed that many businesses, residents and the Vreed-en Hoop Secondary School were affected by the high tide which was due to the breach in the sea defence in that area.
According to Regional Democratic Councillor, Frank Gill, every time there is a high tide the Vreed-en-Hoop post office is closed for several days; residents and businesses are forced to get involved in cleaning and reshuffling. Then there is the stress that comes with the high tide several times each year since 2004.
While the staff of the post office was busy cleaning yesterday, it was noted that the floor of the building was covered in muck. There were even boards that had floated out of place inside the structure.

The Vreed en Hoop Secondary school still flooded although the high tide receded.

Several businesses in the area were also cleaning the muck left behind by the sea. One business owner said that sometimes the water is so high that he has to put his three fridges on multiple drinks casings to protect it from being damaged.
Gill said that the squatters on the sea dam at Vreed-en-Hoop, at Plastic City, contribute to the breach in the dam since they dug up the sea dam to fill to facilitate the building of their respective houses.
A visit to the Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary School revealed that the entire compound was covered with sea water, while a section which facilitates Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) students was also in the flooded compound and was closed. Gill recounted that he spoke to the Regional Chairman, Julius Faerber, and the Minister of Works, Robeson Benn about the sea defence. However, to date there has been nothing forthcoming. It appears as if the government has no intention of removing the squatters.
When this publication visited the seawall behind Plastic City, the walls of the ‘jetty’ leading into the sea was severed. Water from the river was flowing into the swampland, and dense mangrove forests which cover several acres of mudflat.
Gill added that in 2009 Minister Robeson Benn had promised to build a dam to prevent the tidal waves from flowing into the Vreed en Hoop area, and that the people in Plastic City would be removed. Nevertheless, there was nothing done to build a new dam and more people are entering Plastic City.
“They are chopping down the trees, digging up the mud to full up their land and they are building their houses, and the Government appears to be doing nothing about it.”
He explained that he lost $4M last year from the high tides. Gill added the water was also several feet high and three of his vehicles were damaged in his yard along with all his electrical appliances. So too were the furniture in his lower flat of his home in Vreed-en-Hoop.
According to Region Three Chairman Julius Faerber, the sea defence department has a project still to be undertaken. However, the Ministry of Public Works had offered to the residents in Plastic City lands in Parfaite Harmonie and Belle West but some are reluctant in moving.
Faerber said that residents were also offered transportation to move their belongings. Until they move then the project will not commence.
Residents in the area said that they were given six months to pay for house lots that range from $100,000 to $300,000 but they are unable to since most of the persons in Plastic City are poor single parents.
This newspaper tried contacting Minister Robeson Benn for a comment but failed.