While Guyana is on lockdown in the fight to prevent the spread of COVID-19 the Atlantic Ocean is continuing its quest to breach the sea defences.
Recently, it breached the defences at Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara. The breach about two kilometers wide, occurred along a stretch of sea defence from Cottage in the east to Content.
Works currently on site.
Immediately the Ministry of Public Infrastructure which has responsibility for Sea Defences secured emergency funding to seal the breach.
There was an initial award of a contract for another existing breach adjacent to the new one in the same area. That breach was about one kilometer wide. The contractor has been unsuccessful in securing this breach.
Mr. Sawh
He was entrusted with sealing the new breach but declared his inability. The contract for the new breach was eventually awarded to BK International with its huge supply of stone and the necessary machinery.
Initially, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure awarded a contract for 1,200 metres. To date, 800 metres has been sealed.
Chief Engineer attached to BK International, Ganesh Sawh, said that the work was halted because the Ministry did not release funding for the other 800 metres until recently. Sawh said that the late intervention in extending the supply caused the delay.
The Ministry also found it necessary to extend the contract since the quantity of work was beyond the scope of the original contract.
BK International has eight pieces of heavy-duty equipment at the site. And for good reason. Just weeks earlier a breach developed at Content, Mahaicony. Sawh said that it would have proved a disaster. BK International was asked to address the issue immediately. The company sealed the breach within 24 hours.
Residents in the affected communities said that the breach had threatened in the weeks before the collapse. Often they woke to find seawater in their yards. It damaged their agricultural crops.
The work on the 800 metres of sea defence has restarted. Supplies are being rushed to the area.
Asked about a completion date, Sawh said that it could between eight and ten weeks.
