PARAMARIBO – The former minister of Public Works who is also a former chairman of the farmers’ collective from Kwatta, Ganeshkoemar Kandhai, urges the current minister of Public Works to repair the dam that is located at Weg naar Zee.

He says that if the dam isn’t repaired soon, the sea water could reach the fields of the farmers. Kandhai expressed grave concern regarding the high tide that is expected on September 18th because cracks have appeared in the dam. Kandhai explained that the dam is in fact an auxiliary dam which could only work if it is given maintenance on a regular basis. The auxiliary dam was never given regular maintenance which is why sections of it have already collapsed. “If nothing is done to address the problem and if the water reaches the fields, the prices of vegetables will go through the roof,” said Kandhai who added that the sea water could also make the land barren for a long time. Kandhai who ran the Public Works Ministry from 2005 until 2010 explained that he had a clay dam built as a temporary solution. But the dam is weakened with each tide…[+]