The San Fernando City Corporation has turned down a request to help rebuild a wall at a Baptist church saying that it was a private matter.
A landslip caused by persistent rain sent a mound of dirt crashing into the church’s prayer room on Saturday.
Bishop Leon John, of the St Peter’s Spiritual Baptist Church, is appealing to corporate T&T to help save his historic church which was constructed in 1967. He said the building is crumbling under the weight of the landslip.
John, who returned from a convention in Tobago on Sunday night, said he was appalled to see the state of the church. A retaining wall was leaning on the worship hall and cracks were seen on the side of the church, John said.
He added: “When the city engineers visited this morning they told us that the wall was affecting the structural integrity of the church. “The engineers suggested that we get together with the landowner and see if they can assist us. This seems to be a big project that will cost a lot of money to fix. We need to get an excavator to pull away the wall from the church.”
In an interview, deputy mayor Junia Regrello said the corporation could not rebuild the wall. “The wall is really on the church property and it was constructed by the church. It is a private matter with the church and the landowner. The church should work with the landowner as it is not the responsibility of the corporation,” Regrello said.
Told that the church was a historic landmark in San Fernando, Regrello said the corporation was prepared to assist in whatever way it can. “I have advised John to apply to the Minister (of National Diversity) Rodger Samuel to look after this type of thing. We are prepared to help in whatever way we can and we will partner in whatever approach they take,” Regrello said.
Suruj plans to visit
Works Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan said he would visit the church today to assess the situation. He said a team of engineers would lend assistance. Rambachan also said that a contractor had been mobilised to fix three landslips along the Morne Diablo Main Road, which left fishermen and residents stranded over the weekend. “We are working now to clear the roads and a contractor has been hired to fix the landslips,” Rambachan said. The landslips occurred after a week of rainfall.
