Rehabilitation work being done in Calliaqua

The Calliaqua Anglican School is being refurbished and the nearby river banks are receiving stabilization works.

Nearby river banks are receiving stabilization works

Part of the school, originally a flat building, is being converted into a two-storey facility as the roof of the main block has been taken off so that there can be an upper level with four classrooms.

The lower level of the school, which has classrooms separated only by chalkboards, will now be divided by sliding partitions. Work is also being done on the bathroom facilities.

Meanwhile next door, Bally and Bally Investments is doing work on the riverbanks.

Area representative Camillo Gonsalves, who is also minister of finance said on Tuesday that Bally and Bally has promised that the work, valued at EC$600,000, will be completed by March.

Gonsalves said there is considerable erosion taking place along the riverbank and people’s homes are at risk because of climate change.

He noted that the original plan was for gabion baskets along the river to offer protection and assist with the flow of the river to the sea, because sometimes the water stagnates, but that plan has been changed.

“After Bally and Bally got the contract to do the work, we realised gabion baskets were too wide and putting them in a river was actually going to make the river narrow, which would have made the river more powerful coming down, so we changed the design, so instead of having gabion baskets we are having walls,” said Gonsalves.

He noted that matting is being placed at the bed of the river to assist with the flow, while a bridge is also being installed as some persons walk across the bed of the river to cross, which is dangerous.