There's an ongoing dispute over whether the protected mangroves and watershed in the Oropouche lagoon will be affected if the Government builds a $7.2 billion highway to connect San Fernando to Point Fortin.
Minister of Works Emmanuel George said the highway would not destroy the mangroves as it would run north and east of the lagoon, a 56-square-kilometre expanse of tidal marshlands about six kilometres from San Fernando. However, it will cut through the Oropouche River and several of its tributaries.
But environmentalist Dr Wayne Kublalsingh, who is on a hunger strike to stop the project, said the highway would cause devastating floods in the Oropouche basin, since it cuts across the watershed, including the Godineau River, San Francique River and the New Cut Channel.
Maps at the office of the National Infrastructural Development Company showed that low-lying areas on the periphery of the lagoon, including Banwarie Trace, Tulsa Trace, Gopie Trace, Raju Trace, Jokhan Trace, Monteil Trace, Naranjit Trace and Boot Avenue, will be affected if the new highway is built, though there is no evidence of mangrove in these areas.
When the T&T Guardian went there to talk to residents, they had mixed views on whether the highway would bring devastation or development. Some asked whether the construction of nine bridges, four interchanges and a nine-mile embankment along the low-lying regions on the periphery of the lagoon would be properly engineered to prevent flooding.
Hamlet Harripersad, of Banwarie Trace, said he was worried that the highway would disrupt the natural waterflow in the Oropouche basin. "This is not a mangrove area, but it is low-lying, and they want to build the embankment across here," Harripersad said, pointing to a wide expanse of uncultivated lagoon land. He said in days gone by, the land was used for rice cultivation, but some farmers preferred to plant short crops.
Kamla Rampersad, who lives at Banwarie Branch Trace, said the highway would pass directly behind her home in the low-lying land. "I am not happy with it. What will happen to us? We accustomed to living in a community," Rampersad said.
Highway Re-route activist Elizabeth Rambharose said $4 billion could be saved if the Government abandoned the Mon Desir to Debe route. "This highway will cause permanent flooding in the Oropouche lagoon districts because they plan to build an embankment across a flood-prone lagoon. If they stop this phase of the highway, 179 agricultural plots of fertile lands will be saved," she said.
However, several residents expressed support for the highway, saying the Oropouche basin already flooded. Beejay Rampersad, of San Francique, said: "Kublalsingh and his few supporters must stop this hunger strike. Long ago these areas were lagoon lands, but many people backfilled and built houses. The highway will bring greater economic benefit to the people. There are no wetlands here. When the highway comes, the land will become more valuable."
He added that Government was moving to acquire two lots of his family's land. In an interview, the Works Minister dismissed the argument that flourishing mangroves and wildlife would be destroyed if the highway were built.
"This Debe to Mon Desir section bypasses the lagoon to the north and east of it. It does not go into the lagoon," George said. He added that all the technical issues relating to flooding were addressed by an expert team of technocrats, who recommended an embankment to stop flooding.
Rivers in the Oropouche Basin
The Oropouche River, which acts as a major confluence for the four other major rivers, begins in the north-east corner of the South Oropouche watershed, travels south and then turns east while traversing the Barrackpore, Debe and Penal communities. The river passes through Godineau swamp-3,171 hectares of tidal marsh and mangrove-before emptying into the Gulf of Paria.
The Coora River begins in the southern portions of the Penal/Debe region in Mendez Village before travelling north through Syne Village, San Francique and merging with the Oropouche River in Tulsa Village. The Gucharon River begins in the northern portion of the Penal/Debe region in the community of Picton and travels south through Monkey Town, Wellington, Hermitage Village and the north-western corner of the Penal community before meeting with the Oropouche River at the edge of Tulsa Village.
The Papourie River begins in the north-eastern region of the South Oropouche watershed and travels south-west through Borde Narve, Barrackpore and Monkey Town before joining the Oropouche River near Debe. Finally the Trinidad River, which runs through Hermitage Village, La Fortune and La Romaine, joins the Oropouche River as it flows through the Godineau swamp and into the Gulf of Paria.