A planned showdown between supporters of Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner and Works Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan over the new Caroni road did not come off yesterday.Instead, a small crowd of placard-bearing residents of La Paille Village and Frederick Settlement staged a peaceful demonstration on a section of the road.Traffic disruption was minor and the demonstration ended one hour after it began at 7 am.
"The idea was not to block the road but to highlight the problems," Sunil Ramjitsingh, communications officer for Warner, said, adding residents planned to continue the protest today.Ramjitsingh said Warner resent a letter he had written to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar asking her to urgently meet with a small delegation of residents."She has not replied as yet. Residents are hoping for a reply by Boxing Day," he said.
The demonstration came after Rambachan refused to accept an invitation by Warner to meet residents last Thursday at the Frederick Settlement community centre to hear their concerns over the new road.Rambachan sent a reply to Warner stating he had "noted" his request but neither he nor any ministry representative attended the meeting.Contacted by the T&T Guardian on Sunday, Rambachan said he did not attend because he felt Warner was only looking for a confrontation with him.
He added: "I have no intention to engage in confrontation with him. The issues can be solved without confrontation. I am prepared to meet with the people."Warner, in response, said: "I don't need to confront Rambachan. The people of the country will confront him in the next six months."
No consultation
Warner claimed Caroni residents were not consulted on the road, contrary to what the Certificate of Environmental Clearance says."Up to now they have not had a single meeting with me, as MP for the area either," he said.Warner also claimed he did not incite the residents to demonstrate."It wasn't something I planned. The people called me for a meeting and I went and saw for myself," he noted.
He said there was no easy access for residents to get into and out their villages from the road, which looked like a highway with a concrete median."They have to go one mile away, near Young Sing's, to get out of the area. There is no pedestrian crossing, no lights, no walkover," Warner said.Children of the Caroni Presbyterian School faced danger and residents waned the situation rectified before the opening of the new school term on January 5, he said.
"Already, several pedestrians, including elderly persons, have had close brushes with death attempting to cross the road to get taxis or to go home."The lack of lighting and signage have caused a number of vehicles to run off the road and into ditches," he added.Residents also fear shoddy drainage work will cause catastrophic flooding in the area. But Rambachan countered that residents were consulted.
"There are some who do not want to drive an extra 200 yards," Rambachan said, noting that some sections of the road were opened but the project was still incomplete.Rambachan said he was aware of the concerns being raised and they were being addressed.
Cadiz: There'll be dislocation
Transport Minister Stephen Cadiz has admitted there will be "some dislocations" from the new Caroni road but says they are small compared to the big improvement that will come to the area in terms of traffic flow.The Motor Vehicle Authority (MVA), which falls under Cadiz's ministry, is being constructed in the area and will benefit from the new routes.Asked about the delay in the opening of the MVA, which was set for last September, Cadiz said they were waiting on legislation.
"The MVA can't open without legislation. Legislation is on the agenda in Parliament but I don't know when it will be debated," he explained.He said the building was "100 per cent" completed but work was still being done on the carpark and drainage. He said the project "is on target" and set for a March 2015 opening.