Armed with placards chanting "Remove the gate" about 60 residents of Springvale, Claxton Bay gathered yesterday to protest the blockage of an access road into their community.The residents say a steel gate, approximately 30 feet long, was installed by one of their neighbors across the roadway, preventing them from using it.
Speaking to members of the media at the protest site, Mazen Munchan, 84, said she has lived in Springvalle for the past 64 years and for the first time the access road was blocked off in March. "She decided to put up a gate there, for whatever reason and block off the road from anyone passing," said Munchan. "She claiming that the road belongs to her and nobody shouldn't pass on it."
The road in question allows the community access from the North Bound lane of the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway to their homes by foot.Another resident, Raymond Joseph, said villagers are hard pressed to find taxis willing to enter Claxton Bay and for years have resorted to dropping off on the highway to walk home.
"My son goes to Presentation College every day he needs to pass there to come home after school," Joseph said. "The way it is blocked now, he will have to drop by the (Claxton Bay) flyover and walk home from there. If my child get rob who helping him?"Maureen Boodhoo, who lives directly opposite the house in question, told reporters the gate has prevented her from constructing her home.
"I bought material months ago and every time the truck comes to deliver it, the gate is locked and they can't pass," said Boodhoo. "It has been three months since that gate was put and I can't start my house because of it."Boodhoo said she had spoken to the owner of the gate herself but they could come to no resolution.
No response from owner
The T&T Guardian attempted to get a response from the owner of the gate, but was not successful. During the protest, officers of the Couva Police Station intervened and spoke to residents and the owner of the gate.A short time after, Boodhoo told members of the media that the officers had instructed the owner of the gate to keep it open at all times.
Rambachan: Gate illegal
MP for the area Dr Surujrattan Rambachan said he was well aware of the situation."We had a meeting at my office yesterday (Saturday) with both parties and on two occasions before that and the woman was instructed to leave the gate opened," he said. "An official from the Land Settlement Agency told her the gate is illegal and an investigation is being done right now to determine whether it should be removed altogether."
Rambachan said all residents living in that area are squatters as the area is State property.