Penal villagers appeal to PM: We want lights and water

Residents of Sunrees Branch Road, Penal, are pleading for Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar’s intervention to assist them in securing electricity and a reliable water supply in the area. Yesterday, the residents staged a protest  highlighting their concerns, including  better roads. The residents, backed by president of the Movement for Democracy and Constitutional Reform, Jason Mohammed, waved placards and chanted: “We want current (electricity). We want current.”

Mohammed said the residents came to him asking for help after claiming their cries were falling on deaf ears. “They went to their various representatives and nothing is happening. This is not politics playing here. These people are all supporters of the People’s Partnership and they voted for them and they are getting no representation,” he said.

The residents, all of whom are squatting on state lands, said they are being neglected by their councillor, Shanti Boodram, and are calling on Persad-Bissessar, the Siparia MP, to hear their pleas. Resident Kimberly Mungal said they supported the People’s Partnership Government and voted for Persad-Bissessar yet they are still suffering for lights, water and proper drainage.    

“We asked for change and we ain’t get change. It make no sense who you voting. Nothing is being done. Everybody is frustrated and fed up everywhere you go they turning you down. We went to T&TEC (Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission) and they say we have to get the deed of comfort. We went to LSA (Land Settlement Agency) and they say they stop giving out deed of comfort. We have no where to turn to get this current,” she lamented.

She said about 100 residents reside along Sunrees Branch Road and many are forced to use generators for lights. “People spending money on oil, gas and generators. We need lights,” she said. Another resident, Cursil Assoon, said she has been living in the area for the past eight years and they were promised lights and water, but they are still waiting. She said the residents were forced to protest and they are hoping that someone does something.

“We are people, too,” she said. “We need people to hear our voice and do something...Everybody needs lights,” she said. Calls to Boodram’s cellphone went straight to voicemail.