On the brink: Landslip threatens seven Gasparillo homes

Seven houses at San Fabien Road, Gasparillo, are on the brink of collapse because of a landslip which has toppled telephone poles and swallowed part of the roadway, making access impossible. Residents say the landslip was exacerbated by torrential rains over the past few days. Living in the area has become a nightmare, as each day fresh cracks appear on more than a dozen homes, louvre panes shatter and galvanize sheets fall. Worst affected resident, Theresa Leacock, said her entire garage collapsed, pushing a wall of dirt against her neighbour’s home.

Leacock recalled the horror of seeing gaping cracks on her living room and bedroom walls. Floor tiles have been dislodged and the roof is leaking. “It is very scary living here. I know my life is at risk but I have no choice,” Leacock said as she gazed around her living room, which is leaning precariously. She said during the night, creaking noises from her collapsing home keep her awake. “I cannot sleep. I just live with the worry that soon the house will fall and nobody will save me because I live alone,” she said.

Leacock said three months ago she was forced to close down a mini-parlour under her home because of the cracks in the building. Meanwhile, further downhill, Leacock’s neighbour Leeanna Modeste said the slush and mud cascading into her home has become unbearable. “Last week we had to pay a man $800 to clear the mud from blocking the windows. Everytime it rains, the mud comes down. Soon the house will be covered over,” she said. The pathway leading to the Modeste’s home is cracked from the erosion. The front door is spattered with mud and the concrete walls are filled with cracks. Five other houses belonging to Sheldon Bramble, Lucille Walters, Darryl Granger, Clyde Joseph and Kelvin Hypolite, are also cracked up and leaning.

Hypolite said electrical lines are leaning dangerously. “Right now, we cannot use the road. We fed up complain. Jack Warner call me personally and say that they will fix the landslip and nothing was done. What they want us to do? Block the road and burn tyres?” he asked. Hypolite said he cannot get to his garage because of the land slippage. Taxis no longer work in the area forcing residents to walk for more than a mile. The residents are calling on their MP Dr Suruj Rambachan to assist them. Rambachan is currently out of the country and attempts to contact Warner for comment were futile.