Burgesses of Chaguanas are reluctant to go to the polls for the Local Government elections, saying they are fed up of the constant lack of representation, lies and lip service by their councillors.
Munroe Road/Caroni Savannah Road
From the beginning of this year, businesses, vendors and homes along Munroe Road—the district of councillor Adrian Ali—have been under attack by armed bandits.
A worker at Kajo’s Variety Store, which sells mostly clothing, said they had seen a spike in break-ins at businesses.
“Most of the thefts have been occurring late at nights. Some of us have been closing our doors earlier than usual to safeguard ourselves and the little that we earn,” said the worker, who refused to reveal her identity.
The bandits have also targeted roadside vendors.
One vegetable vendor who fell victim a few weeks ago said the bandit placed a gun to her head and relieved her of $700 and a phone valued $2,000.
“The thief came here pretending to be a customer and when I turned my back, he whipped out his gun and robbed me. Now you can’t tell the difference between customer and bandit.”
This was the third time the vendor had been robbed for the year.
“When I come out to sell I not sure I will make it back home alive. Nowhere is safe in this country and the politicians trying to score points with each other while we are caught in the middle with gunmen. Daily, blood flowing like water on the streets...bodies dropping like flies. Obviously, this country is in a crisis,” the vendor said.
At Ramoutar Street, Leela Basdeo said she went to Ali’s office twice for help but did not see him.
“I went seeking help after my husband died from leptospirosis. But he was not there. I got fed up and never went back.”
Basdeo said she felt disappointed knowing she supported Ali in the last election and in her time of need she could not turn to him for help.
Montrose
Montrose councillor Andell Paramsook also came in for some heavy criticism for his poor representation.
Claire Street resident Gary Joseph said while they were thankful for street lighting, what burgesses need most were proper roads and a recreation ground.
Swinging on a hammock under a shed at a poultry shop along the busy Main Road, an employee said for years they have been clamouring for better roads in their district.
“Now and then you would see them patching the roads. That is all they doing. We fed up talk,” he said.
Asked if he had made a complaint to Paramsook, the employee began to frown.
“Well, don’t talk about the councillor. We don’t see he at all,” the employee said.
John Street resident Jeffrey Georges said they longed for their own recreational ground so children could play and exercise.
“Parents would normally take their kids to the Lange Park Recreational Ground. It is time we get our own grounds.”
Georges admitted to not knowing Paramsook, although he has never voted.
Enterprise
Noted for being a crime hotspot in Central, Enterprise’s spate of gang warfare and killings has eased—at least for now.
The murders started escalating after reputed gang leader Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis was assassinated in 2016 at his Enterprise business.
In 2017, then national security minister Edmund Dillon had promised to construct a police station in the community to deal with soaring crime in councillor Lisa Holder’s electoral district with the emergence of the Unruly Isis gang, who clashed with Rasta City gang members for drug turf.
Two years later, burgesses said that promise never materialised.
“Even though things cool down in Enterprise there is still a presence of gang members in the community. We would feel safer if there is a police station. But it seems that idea has been thrown out the window,” Gregory Baker, of Kenny Cyrus Street, said.
Another resident blamed lack of employment for fuelling crime.
Doubles vendor Terrence Jacob, of Railway Road, said although the area has been stigmatised, some residents have been trying to improve their community.
For months, Jacob said a clogged drain had been flooding the residents’ homes.
“Everyone got together and raised $700 to buy materials to increase the height of a culvert to prevent the water from entering our homes. We also cleared the drain.”
The residents, Jacob said, opted to do their own work.
Jacob added he would withhold his vote until “a good alternative party comes along.”
Felicity/Endeavour
Along Cacandee Road, Felicity, there were visible signs of abandonment, as drains were choked, there was overgrowing grass, no pavements and deplorable roads.
“For years we have been asking for a pavement to walk on. They cut CEPEP. The road in a mess. Now we suffering for water.
“Lord, what next? We don’t know how much more we could take. We councillor Ganga Singh not doing nothing,” said Maraj Street resident and former Caroni 1975 Ltd employee Mahabir Daroga.
Daroga did not even know Singh was the MP for Chaguanas West and Debideen Manick is Felicity’s councillor. He looked perplexed when corrected.
“So who is my councillor?” he asked again and had to be told a second time.
Standing on Endeavour Road, pensioner Bhagwandaye Bachan described the CBC as non-existent, saying she recently had to pay $50 to clean the drain in front of her son’s food business.
“If we don’t clean the drain nobody will. So what you paying taxes for? This drain is the responsibility of the corporation. I ain’t know if they don’t have workers or funding but we not benefiting from nothing. To make matters worse I don’t even know my councillor,” Bachan said.
A short distance away, car wash operator Davanand Balai said the road needed re-paving and garbage collection was unsatisfactory.
“This road is a main artery to Chaguanas and should not be in this poor state.”
Guardian Media was advised that it was unsafe to venture into Enterprise South, the electoral district of PNM councillor Ronald Heera.
