The eroded banks of Rio Minho, Clarendon, caused by flooding on Saturday. - Andrew Smith / Staff Photographer ADOLPHUS GOODEN'S plea to the National Works Agency (NWA) to address an eroding riverbank in Mount Lebanus, St. Thomas, fell on deaf years.
On April 11 this year he told The Gleaner that he was fearful that a heavy shower of rain could send huge boulders down the river which could result in his house being washed away. Now, just over a month after he expressed concerns, his fears have materialised.
On Saturday morning about 5:30, Mr. Gooden was in the kitchen of his two-bedroom house in New Monk-land, Mount Lebanus, during the heavy rains when a section of his house collapsed into the river. He has not been seen since and his family now fears the worst.
HOUSE COLLAPSED
Initial reports were that Mr. Gooden was crossing a walkway in the district when he lost his balance, fell into the river and was washed away. However, the police have since confirmed that he was washed away when a section of the house collapsed.
In the article 'St. Thomas family living on the edge' which was carried in The Gleaner on April 28, 2003, Mr. Gooden said he and his family including his 89-year-old wife, Ezieporoh, his son and three grandchildren have been living in fear of a disaster since October of last year following flood rains associated with Hurricane Lili.
He said the flood waters washed boulders and large volumes of debris down the river, which eroded its banks and a large portion of the earth. A building which was located about 20 feet from the river was swept away and the perimeter wall located at the back of Mr. Gooden's property was also displaced.
He told The Gleaner then that he had made representation to the NWA regarding the dangers but got no meaningful response. The residents had suggested that the river be re-channelled and a groin constructed along the area behind the house to minimise the possibility of further erosion.
NWA UPDATE
When contacted on April 24, NWA's community relations officer for St. Thomas, Collin Morrison, promised to provide an update on the situation, after consulting with an NWA engineer with responsibility for river training. However, he had not done so. Mr. Morrison was contacted on four subsequent occasions prior to April 28, however, he was still unable address the issue.
The Gleaner has learnt that subsequent to the publishing of Mr. Gooden's story he had begun to construct another perimeter wall at the back of his house.
In the meantime, his family is being housed in a private shelter in the community. His daughter and her three children who lived in a two-bedroom house adjacent to Mr. Gooden's house have also been evacuated as the foundation of their house has been partially eroded.
