Moruga protests end as work starts

Two days of fiery protests ended at Santa Maria Village in Moruga on yesterday after contractors began road repairs.

Spokesman Wayne Baptiste said residents blocked the roads on Wednesday afternoon but firefighters quickly arrived and cleared away the burning barricades. 

Around 6 pm that day, Baptiste said a team of contractors came to the villagers and requested permission to begin road works.

“The contractor told us that they had a contract to pave the roads. We asked them about the landslips but they said all they were contracted to do was to fix the road,” Baptiste said.

He added that heavy machinery was brought into the community around 8 am yesterday and workers began scraping and levelling the road surface.

However, Baptiste said more work needed to be done on six major landslips.

“We are not satisfied with this road paving because we think that it is time they fix the landslips as well,” Baptiste said. He added that former Works Minister Jack Warner visited their area last year and promised to fix the roads.

He also called on Tableland/Moruga MP Clifton De Coteau to meet with the villagers to discuss their problems.

On Monday hundreds of residents complained of deplorable roads, landslips, lack of a water supply and unemployment. 

They chopped down trees at the 14-mile mark of the Penal Rock Road, forcing motorists to use alternative routes. 

The Santa Maria RC School was also shut down and scores of students were unable to attend classes at the Moruga Composite School. 

More than 700 people are affected by the deplorable conditions. 

Resident Donna Aping said taxi fares were high and they are forced to walk for miles with their groceries. She also added that garbage trucks no longer pass on the Penal Rock Road.

In an earlier interview, De Coteau said he sympathised with the residents’ plight. He said several letters were written to the ministry of works requesting urgent attention. 

Leader of Government Business Dr Roodal Moonilal also promised to assist with the unemployment issues by arranging for Cepep gangs to be set up in the community.