Volunteers suspend beach clean-up in protest of mangroves destruction

Some of the garbage and waste removed from the Georgetown Seawalls back in April of 2021

A number of volunteers who came together and form ‘Seawalls and beyond’ the group that has been doing beach clean-ups has suspended its volunteer clean-up activities with immediate effect.

A statement from the organisation which described itself as being a non-partisan, independent group of nature-loving community volunteers said the suspension is as a direct protest action to the destruction of acres of mangroves on the West Bank Demerara.

The statement noted that the responses given by the two Ministers (Deodat Indar and Juan Edghill) of Public Works on the destruction of the mangroves has leff the organisation disappointed and in dismay.

“Seawalls and beyond wishes to formally register our disappointment and utter dismay at all the relevant agencies including the EPA and the Seas Defence Board for approving this abhorrent destruction” Seawalls and Beyond noted.

The organisation said it does not accept the explanation given by the two Ministers (Deodat Indar and Juan Edghill) of Public Works that the mangroves have been displaced as it questioned: “displace to where”?

“In response to this travesty and the callous insensitive and unsatisfactory response by elected representatives of the people of Guyana, Seawalls Beyond hereby suspends all clean-up activities in protest at Kingston, Georgetown until further notice” the organisation concluded.

Several acres of river-front land which sported lush mangroves have been destroyed in preparation for a shore base located at Malgretout/Versaules West Bank Demerara