Residents of the HDCs Riverside South Development in Corinth, San Fernando are calling on the government to immediately construct proper drainage to save their homes from multiple landslips.
They say over the past two years multiple reports have been made and site visits by HDC officials conducted.
However, they tell our reporter Cindy Raghubar-Teekersingh, nothing is being done and more and more homes are being threatened.
00:00How could an HTC development be built parallel to a river and no retaining wall or proper drainage constructed?
00:08That's the question being asked by the chairman of the Riverdale South Management Company,
00:14representing HTC customers of the Riverside South development in San Fernando on Monday.
00:20Since 2023, we've been communicating challenges with drainage that has caused flooding
00:26and now it has escalated to major landslips that threatened homeowners and their families.
00:33Ms. Dowell says from the time residents observed minor cracks and shifting,
00:38they began sending emails, letters and photos of the progression, pleading for it to be addressed early.
00:44But over the last two years, two landslips developed, leading to at least three families relocating due to unsafe conditions.
00:53That entrance, in keeping with all the other townhouses, would have been at road level right here.
01:00It has slid all the way over there.
01:04So it has dropped because of a lack of infrastructure.
01:08At the back, there is no retaining wall for this stream that runs into the Corinth River
01:12and it has caused gradual sliding of this building, among others.
01:16Whether it's a townhouse, duplex or single family unit, those that border the stream which feeds into the main Corinth River are at risk.
01:26Ms. Dowell says she understands HTC relocated at least two families.
01:31But what most want is proper drainage and retaining walls to save the homes they've already invested time and money into.
01:39And we're asking, please, please finish your job for our community and put proper infrastructure to make sure that the land does not continue to slip.
01:49We are hoping that with a new administration, we will win too.
01:53So we are inviting the new minister to come visit and come assess things and self-see how your people are suffering and take action.
02:03When contacted, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, David Lee, under whose ministry HTC falls,
02:10says he referred the matter to the chairman of HTC who will investigate.
02:15Minister Lee says with a new administration in office, residents can expect a different approach to their complaints
02:21and says something has to be done to rectify the situation.
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