After Grupo Esfuerzo acquired a farm in the community of Bristol in Matina de Limón in 2017, its directors became aware of the local population’s need for a structure to prevent the dreaded and constant flooding during the rainy season.
For this reason, they participated in a successful public-private partnership with the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT), the National Banana Corporation (CORBANA), the National Commission for Risk Prevention and Emergency Attention (CNE), JAPDEVA and the local government.
As a result of this joint work and based on the results of a study of the Matina river, a dam was inaugurated last April to prevent the river from breaking course on its left bank, which would’ve directly affect the small community of B-Line, cattle ranchers and small farmers in the area.
The residents of Bristol, Corina and Baltimore, who use this route, also benefit from the project.
“Let’s recall that practically every year, during the rainy season there are communities in Limón that are flooded by rivers that break their course. This impacts thousands of people, requiring the opening of temporary shelters and causing economic losses, a situation that harms Matina, which is already the most underdeveloped county in the country according to the Human Development Atlas” , said Roberto Gómez, general manager of Grupo Esfuerzo.