Latest update February 6th, 2025 7:27 AM
Mosquito Hall to benefit from new rip-rap sea defence
Residents of Mosquito Hall are poised to benefit significantly from the $275 Million sea defence allocation that Cabinet recently green lighted for that area located in Mahaica on the East Coast of Demerara.
The Ministry of Public Works, Chief Sea and River Defence Officer, Kevin Samad in an interview with Kaieteur News explained that the allocation for Mosquito Hall will be used to provide a new rip-rap defence structure that will be replacing the old and structurally unsound seawall which is currently a discomfort to residents, as a result of the over topping during the high tides and inclement weather.
He said that 500 meters of sea defence will be repaired during phase one of the exercise and the additional sections will be rehabilitated under phases two and three, when further funding is approved.
A section of the undermined Mosquito Hall wall which will be addressed
According to the official, “over the years we have done some rehab work, it had sections that were dilapidated and we didn’t have the funds to address those issues with major reconstruction so we had to resort to rehabilitation.”
He explained that as the work progresses “we will determine how we are going to spend the money, but for now the three segments will be indentified… Bottom line is the entire area needs total rehabilitation.”
Samad explained that the rip-rap sea defence entails the creation of a wall using boulders layered on top of each other. This type of wall is more effective in cushioning and dispersing the onslaught of the waves when it connects to the wall.
Samad outlined that in the event that the rip rap wall is needed to be built higher it could easily facilitate such a construction as opposed to a concrete wall which would crack and break at the points where new concrete is applied.
He did say however, that where there is a need for concrete walls in the Georgetown area it will be built, since beyond the walls primary function as a defence it also serves as an avenue for persons to walk and exercise and enhances the aesthetics of the environment.
Speaking to the concerns raised by residents over the height of the current seawall at Mosquito Hall, in light of the overtopping, Samad said “obviously we recognize the importance and seriousness of the sea level rise.”
He added that for the last ten years all the structures that have been built exceeded previous heights.
He explained that “the numbers have indeed shown an increase in water levels and all of the structures we built over the ten years have taken the sea level rise into consideration”
He said the crest of the rip-rap seawall will be at a higher elevation and the flexibility of the wall will prevent overtopping.
Residents in April of this year had complained about the state of certain sections of the wall and were eager to pinpoint the areas that were caving in. They had expressed fear that the aging seawall will eventually crumble and topple, leaving them at the mercy of the ocean, particularly during high tide.
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