February 14, 2000

The preparation of tender documents for infrastructural works required at Carellie the proposed relocation site for families displaced by land slippage in parts of Marchand has come to its end. Director of Planning Alison King Joseph says her department is hoping to issue the invitations to tender this week, with a view to receiving quotations in the next four to six weeks.

Contractors, she says, will tender on elements like roads, drainage works, water and electrical services. According to Mrs. Joseph, "In parallel with that, we will be conducting discussions with the individuals who will be taking up parcels of land within the relocation site to help isolate their individual needs. Then, its all systems go."

Beginning in September of 1999 Government, through the Ministry of Planning, began a massive relocation drive involving over fifty families affected by land slippage in Black Mallet and Maynard Hill. Part funding for the relocation effort has come via a 500,000 US dollar loan from the Caribbean Development Bank.

Mrs. Joseph says it is difficult to place a time frame on the completion of the relocation exercise to date since government has not been able to ascertain the exact amount of assistance it will provide. Support, she says, may vary from family to family.

SOURCE: Government Information Service

Land Slippage Victims Relocate to Carille

January 21, 2000

Officials of the Ministry of Planning say things are progressing smoothly in the massive relocation drive for scores of families affected by the Black Mallet/Maynard land slippage. Director of Planning Alison King-Joseph says quotations from the various utilities companies on the proposed relocation site in Carille, have been received, and Ministry of Communications Works and Transport is currently in the process of putting out tender documents for road and drainage construction.

Joseph "Bear in mind it is an extensive development, we have in excess of 80 lots proposed within that new site. So far we have moved closed to 80 households. Now not all of these are going to be necessarily relocated, it depends on the status of tenure that they had with the affected area."

The Ministry of Planning and other relevant agencies like the Officer of Disaster Preparedness continues to meet with individual households to ascertain what level of support can be offered.

SOURCE: Government Information Service

A Major Drainage Exercise for Land Slippage Areas

January 18, 2000

The continued increase in land slippage affecting the areas of Black Mallet and Maynard Hill has prompted government to seek additional remedial measures aimed at halting the land movement.

Prime Minister the Honourable Dr. Kenny Anthony told a press contingent Monday "that if the land slippage problem was to be finally arrested, a major de-watering exercise would be needed". He said the findings from all the experts indicate that the area retained a substantial amount of water that would have to be drained.

Dr. Anthony's comments came after leading another delegation of officials from the Ministry of Planning together with utility technocrats on an expanded tour of the area. Government has to date retained the services of a Trinidadian firm which is conducting the de-watering exercise scheduled to get underway from as early as next week. "I want to alert residents of the area that they will be seeing some unusual activity in the next few weeks as we begin the process of de-watering and that they should not be alarmed," said Dr. Anthony.

Another remedial measure adopted included the construction of a berm at a certain section of the Castries River to assist in stabilization. Meantime Dr. Anthony has called for mechanisms to be put in place for cleaning up the area. "Demolition of damaged houses must continue and clearing crews need to be hired for removing the huge amount of debris. I would also like to see a tree planting exercise to assist in soil stabilization and in beautifying the area." A problem of vandalism due to a lack of police presence in the area at night Dr. Anthony says is also to be addressed.

The land slippage, which began in September of 1998, has cost government over $1.2 million. Assistance has come from the Caribbean Development Bank which has approved a loan of $US 500,000 for the re-settlement exercise. That loan awaits parliamentary approval.

Prime Minister Anthony says the slippage holds serious lessons for development planners and residents of communities where similar unplanned development has occurred over the years.

SOURCE: Government Information Service

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