Cedros residents on edge

CEDROS residents who were displaced by severe coastal erosion last February which swallowed up their houses have not yet received letters of comfort to begin the rebuilding process.

Cedros councillor Shankar Teelucksingh, in a telephone interview yesterday, said the homes of 13 other residents had been identified by the Office of Disaster Prevention and Management as being at risk should the erosion continue unabated.

“Since the collapse of the last three (houses) last year February, what has been happening is, the authorities did not do any correction work to have the problem solved.”

Teelucksingh said a report from the coastal protection unit of the Ministry of Works had not been given to the Siparia Regional Corporation.

“The erosion continues to be active and the residents continue to be concerned that if nothing is done at this point in time, their homes may be at risk.” He said there were still villagers living at Bamboo village. As for the eight displaced residents, he said their lives had come to a standstill as they were still living in HDC houses.

“They are still waiting for a deed of comfort and this has not been given to them for a parcel of land to start to rebuild.” He said the Ministry of Works should inform residents of its plans for the area and if it was willing to assist in rebuilding the village.