Reporter
carisa.lee@cnc3.co.tt
A Rich Plain Road family slept more easily last night, after Diego Martin Borough Corporation (DMBC) workers covered a landslide threatening their home with tarpaulin on Sunday.
The corporation stated that this will allow the mud to dry out, enabling them to effectively remove the debris without further slippage.
Guardian Media understands that a leaning utility pole was also evaluated by the T&T Electricity Commission over the weekend, and the commission will collaborate with the DMBC to remove the debris using the necessary heavy equipment.
While thankful for the quick response, homeowner Brewster Rogers hopes the corporation remembers the tarpaulin is only a temporary fix.
Contacted yesterday, Covigne/Rich Plain councillor Avonelle Boyce said the Disaster Management Unit will give Rogers all the information needed to apply for assistance from the Government to ensure the slippage is permanently addressed.
Last Friday, Rogers explained that the soil began slipping the week before and worsened with heavy rainfall in the days that followed.
He added that the slippage started less than five feet from his house, which he has been living in for over 30 years. To protect his property, Rogers said he spent $2,000 on a makeshift drain.
At least nine other households have also been affected, as mud on the roadway has limited access to their homes, preventing vehicles from passing beyond a certain point.
Rogers said this was not the first time the land had slipped, and he believes the entire hill needs proper road infrastructure and drainage. He said residents had tried to address the problem on their own but not everyone was willing to contribute financially.
