Pichelin resident disputes official claim of “no threat” after landslide

From the standpoint of one who has seen the destruction firsthand, Pichelin resident Mervin Bellot strongly disagrees with the announcement by the minister responsible for Public Works, Rayburn Blackmore that there is “no immediate threat to life and property” following last week’s massive landslide in the south of the island.

Bellot, who lives close to the slide zone, described waking to tremors and later witnessing a huge section of the mountain collapse into the riverbed. He said the debris created a natural dam, blocking the river and trapping a dangerous volume of water behind it. “If that dam bursts, the village is in serious trouble,” Bellot warned. “It’s not a comfortable situation. People need to be very careful.”

According to Bellot, the landslide left a wall of mud and rock towering nearly 60 feet high, with water steadily seeping through the debris. He fears that continued rainfall could destabilize the blockage and unleash a torrent of water and debris downstream. “The soil is soft, the river is rising, and if heavy rain continues, the dam will break,” he said.

Bellot recounted rushing to alert villagers immediately after the incident, urging them to evacuate. Some residents have already left their homes, but he insists more urgent action is needed. He criticized authorities for downplaying the danger and for allowing contractors to dump material into the river, which he says has worsened the situation by narrowing the waterway.

While government officials have stated that monitoring is underway and that there is no present danger, Bellot insists this assessment is misleading. “That’s not true,” he said firmly. “If you come and see it for yourself, you’ll understand. The amount of debris and water behind that dam is enough to devastate the community if it gives way.”

Bellot is calling for immediate intervention to create a safe outlet for the trapped water and to prevent further dumping into the river. “Authorities should tread carefully,” he cautioned. “If this comes down, it will affect not only the village but motorists and communities along the south coast.”

Blackmore also revealed in a radio interview on Monday morning that clearing operations are scheduled to begin today, aided by more favorable weather conditions expected through Tuesday. The government’s priority, according to the minister, is to ensure that the river channel remains undisturbed and that mitigation measures are fully observed to safeguard downstream communities.