OFFICIALS?OF?THE Seventh-Day Adventist Church are still awaiting a geological investigation into the cave that opened at their headquarters three weeks ago.
Government geologist Andre Brathwaite told the SATURDAY SUN there was a problem getting his equipment on site.
The cave was discovered on the grounds of the Eastern Caribbean Conference at Brydens Avenue, Brittons Hill, St Michael, when a large section of the ground collapsed.
Since then, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, who is the representative for the St Michael South constituency in which the cave is located, and officials from the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW), visited the site to view the massive opening.
Pastor Carl Dyal said workers from MTW last week dug around the area to get a better assessment of the cave. He said the church was also pleased with the interest and concern shown by the Prime Minister.
He said the church would await a report from the geologist before making any decisions “on the way forward”.
But Brathwaite told this newspaper yesterday that while he had done a surface mapping of the area, he has not been able to do a more intricate study of the cave because there was a problem getting his equipment on site, mainly due to the unavailability of transportation.
He said as soon as this issue was resolved he would be able to conduct a detailed study of the cave.
The geologist also pointed out that there might be a connection between the cave on the church’s property and another he examined earlier this week at nearby Freeman Land.
That cave is on the property of Ione Weekes, who has lived in the area for 52 years.
Weekes, whose house is located behind the church’s property, said the cave on her land had been in existence for several years. She said she believed it was the “mouth” of the cave leading to the one on the church’s property.
However, Weekes said while people went through the cave several years ago, the “mouth” was eventually blocked with stones.
Brathwaite said there could be a connection between the two caves due to their proximity, adding that the one on Weekes’ property was above ground while that at the church was below ground.He stated that he would be able to do a more detailed mapping as soon as the equipment was at both sites.
