The Ministry of Public Works has revealed that there were no major breaches to the country’s sea and river defenses last year. Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill is crediting increased monitoring and maintenance of structures across the shore lines as the reason for no major breaches taking place.

During last year, Mr. Edghill said 5.5 kilometers of new flood protection structures were built in several regions, while 65 kilometers of existing structures were rehabilitated and maintained.

“The good news about our seas defenses in 2023, is because of our rigorous approach and the volume of work that we have been doing, we have not reported major breaches,” Edghill said. 

He explained that the Sea and River Defense department has been working overtime to keep the water out of the coastland, to not only protect citizens, but to also boost investor confidence.

Sea and River Defenses work was done in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Ten.

“When we build sea and river defenses, it is not just seawalls for people to go and chill, but that means we have more lands that are available for people to plant, we have more families that could go into poultry, we have more people who could develop their houses. So, what we do in sea and river defenses keep the water out but link that now, to what happen to people’s lives, Mr. Edghill noted.

The Minister said the Sea and River Defense board will now expand its reach and will also focus heavily on coastal monitoring and data collection on the country’s shore lines. Already, he said the use of drones has been providing crucial assistance in monitoring the shore lines

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