Cops threaten to close North Coast Road

AS A RESULT of a series of landslides on Monday night and yesterday morning along the North Coast Road, North Eastern Division police have threatened to close the road indefinitely. Officials of the Ministry of Works and Transport, however, have denied that the road would be closed. “I do not want anybody going there and getting killed and then blaming me or the police. This road I want closed immediately until a decision is made as to what to do and how the people will be protected,” said Senior Supt Waldron Bishop. When Newsday spoke to Bridget Adams, public relations officer at the ministry, she expressed shock at Bishop’s statements.

“Yes, as long as the rain falls, the landslides will continue because the earth is saturated with water, but the ministry has given no directive to close the road. “The road remains open, and we have issued certain cautions that commuters must practise. Only the ministry has the authorisation to close the roads.” When Newsday visited the area, employees of the Ministry of Works and CEPEP were again clearing the road as they have been doing every morning since the landslides began. Meanwhile, a decision has been taken to start remedial work today on the North Coast Road.

Minister of Works Franklin Khan met yesterday with Director of Highways Roger Ganesh to decide how much remedial work should be carried out to save the road, stretching from Maraval to the Arima Blanchisseuse Road. Khan told Newsday that although all the debris from the landslides have been cleared away, the soil was still waterlogged and he expected more landslide during the coming weeks. He admitted that the situation along the North Coast Road is cause for concern, but  a budget has been allocated to save the North Coast Road and prevent further landslides. Several engineers with expertise in soil erosion have already been conducting tests to ascertain what measures could be put in place along the North Coast Road.

Yesterday, the North Coast Regional Community Councils wrote Khan, thanking him and employees of the Ministry of Works on their quick response in clearing away the debris on the North Coast and Arima Blanchisseuse Road over the past three weeks. The letter was sent to Khan by Owen Charles, president of the North Coast Regional Community Councils. The North Coast Road had more than 60 landslides due to persistent rainfall over the past three weeks. The popular Maracas Beach no longer attracts visitors due to the landslides which occur on a daily basis.  People have been advised to be very careful when driving along the North Coast Road.