Heavy rain washes away bridge in Cedros

HUNDREDS of residents from three villages in South Trinidad — Columbus Bay, Fullerton and Icacos — were yesterday cut off from the rest of the country after heavy showers caused a temporary link bridge to collapse. Councillor Samnarine Teelucksingh told Newsday that the Perseverance Bridge at Southern Main Road, Perseverance Village in Cedros, collapsed around midday, stranding villagers and visitors to the area. “Rain fell very heavily from 5 am to 10 am, and the main bridge linking the three villages collapsed,” Teelucksingh said. He said the Ministry of Works had hired a contractor for road works in the area, including rebuilding of bridges and dredging of rivers and drains.

“The Perseverance Bridge was listed to be rebuilt so the contractor constructed a temporary bridge and bypass road. But because of the heavy downpour the swollen Perseverance River completely washed away the bypass road and the bridge,” Teelucksingh said. He added that residents were very concerned over the incident saying they would be unable to get to work and school today. Teelucksingh said he contacted Penal/Debe Regional Corporation (PDRC) chairman Allen Sammy and the Ministry of Works’ Cedros sub-office, but was still awaiting word from them. “In the interim, there is nothing that can be done at this point. I tried to see how best I could implement temporary relief measures but to no avail,” Teelucksingh said. Efforts by Newsday to reach officials at the Ministry of Works and the PDRC chairman also proved futile.