The citizens of Endeavour, Cunupia, Enterprise, Longdenville, Penco Lands and especially Lange Park are under siege due to the huge traffic problems they have to endure for most of the day. There are only two roads connecting East Chaguanas to West Chaguanas and environs. Despite consultations and suggestions nothing has been done to alleviate this serious problem.
The Government has brought a number of their offices into Chaguanas and are bringing more, claiming decentralisation when, in fact, this is just relocation and without the suitable infrastructural support they are transferring the traffic problems to Chaguanas.
The mayor keeps talking about city status but a city has to be properly planned and organised, it cannot just be a wily-nilly collection of buildings with no concern for the comfort and satisfaction of the population. For a number of years now burgesses have met with the mayor, Mr Warner and Mr Cadiz, Mr Roger Ganase with the situation not only not improving but, in fact, becoming worse.
The Lange Park Residents Association have, with the benefit of advice from traffic expert Dr Rae Furlong, made a number of suggestions to alleviate the problem viz:
• An overpass to be constructed joining the Edinburgh 500 Highway to Factory Road.
• An overpass be constructed joining Pierre Road West to Pierre Road East.
• The area where Rodney Road meets the Endeavour Road by the WASA water station be converted into a roundabout.
• The road on the Southeast of the Chan Ramlal Road leading to Food Basket be converted into a one-way in a westerly direction.
• At present the traffic wardens stay only inside Chaguanas and seem to be mainly on the watch for traffic offenders. They should be at strategic points where there are traffic blocks, eg under the flyover, at the eastern side of the traffic lights east of the flyover, at both ends of Ramsaran Street, at the junction of Chan Ramlal Road next to the Medford gas station.
No capital expenditure was stated in the budget for the relief of traffic in Chaguanas but we see money was spent on a Couva system and money approved for an overpass at Indian Trail. We need relief now as businessmen are complaining and it is causing severe stress on residents.
Trevor Bridglalsingh
Chaguanas