Authorities face dilemma with homes near seawalls

Mar 04, 2018 News

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-no plans to “wholesale” shift capital city

Heavy overtopping and floods within the last few days have awakened the harsh realities of climate change.
In fact, the proximity of homes to the country’s seawalls, which serve as the last line of defence, was never made more stark than when flood waters gushed over the walls flooding streets and homes on West Demerara.
The problem, according to authorities, is that the façade drains near the seawalls which are supposed to take the overtopping, are either simply too small, non-existent or there are difficulties accessing the area for maintenance because of illegal structures in the way.
Over time, housing schemes, like Ocean View, Uitvlugt, sprang up with properties developed and businesses opened.
Residents could have never predicted the brutal waves that pounded the area started Thursday night. It was terrifying, and for some, never happened like that before.
Ocean View was one of the three villages that bore the brunt of the high tides that started Thursday night. Also affected were Stewartville, Leonora and other parts of Uitvlugt.
More than 300 homes were badly affected and tens of millions of dollars in losses recorded, officials said yesterday.
The Leonora Cottage Hospital was forced to close after more than a foot of water covered the ground floor.
Emergency workers established shelters for almost 40 children and as many adults at two separate locations.
Yesterday, inspecting the scene and sharing out supplies were Prime Minister (ag), Carl Greenidge, and representatives of the region and various ministries.
Greenidge, who is the Foreign Minister, noted that from his briefings, the main problem seems to be the overtopping– the strength and force of the water coming over the wall
Residents claimed to have seen waves nearly 100 feet high.
Greenidge acknowledged that there is not much that can be done but a number of ministries are collaborating with supplies and emergency centers established. Hot meals are being provided also.
With more high tides expected today and tomorrow, the official noted that it is an ongoing situation.
In all, more than 1,000 people are said to be affected with losses.
Questioned about the thinking of the administration in light of the increased risk and incidences of high waves, Greenidge pointed out that it is a fact that workers need space for equipment to access the areas near the sea defense structures.
One of the challenges is that drains are not big enough to take off the water. There is need for bigger drains.
Greenidge, a former Chief Planning Officer, made it clear that Government can’t just pick up affected persons and dump them elsewhere.
Acknowledging that the situation of persons living close to the sea defence happened over time, the acting PM also said that some of them are there knowing the risks.
Of course, there will, in some cases be very little that can be done to remedy the situation
In the short term, authorities will have to “try” and minimise the problems.
“For the medium term, we have to look at the arrangement; where the houses are, where the seawall is, the size of the drains…to ensure they are in accordance with the requirements and the law.”
Greenidge admitted that some decisions will be unpopular with affected persons.
“But if you have a house that does not allow a drain to be built here, you endanger the people behind you, health wise and also in terms of physical structures.”
Greenidge stressed that now is not the time for blame.
Asked about long terms plans of moving the capital, Greenidge said that it has been raised before.
“There are options in terms of our development in the medium to long term for the expansion of office, industry and commerce, elsewhere.”
But the acting PM is not thinking that way.
He said that when one thinks of business, agriculture and other activities located in a place that is at risk, then there are issues of competitiveness because of high prices.
“I don’t really envisage that you are going to have any wholesale movement of the capital.
But a lot of the new development will have to take place elsewhere.”
He noted that the West and East Demerara are locations with the highest density areas in this whole region, even in the Americas.
“So it is not a cheap exercise you talking about…picking people and moving them.”
Greenidge believed that it will have to take collaborative effort from the Central Housing and Planning Authority as well as the Ministry of Communities to enforce rules based on a sensible plan.
He pointed out that it could have never been envisioned the current “chaos” of Georgetown when it was started in the 18-19th century.
It will take discipline as a people to organise how businesses, housing and other activities have to be located.
Rules will have to be observed.

 

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