radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Faced with an increase in dengue in their community, constituents from Penal and Debe are volunteering to clear several minor watercourses and drains once they get clearance from the central Government.
Oropouche MP Dr Roodal Moonilal and several of the contractors have toured the SS Erin Road and the M2 Ring Road to investigate the cause of the flooding.
In an interview, Moonilal said preliminary checks suggested that indiscriminate dumping of dirt into watercourses at the Debe Interchange was causing the floods.
Moonilal said he contacted Local Government Minister Haji Kazim Hosein to clear the blockages.
“I am pleading with the minister as the financial year is coming to an end, to use the in-house resources to undertake some works like basic clearing, cleaning, and dredging of water courses to reduce the floods. When it floods the water stays in puddles and we now have a dengue problem. In last week five constituents have contracted dengue,” Moonilal said.
He added, “Some constituents have prepared themselves to clear the drains so I intend to raise with Minister Hosein this suggestion. Residents want to clear it themselves so I will speak to him to see what they can lawfully do that to clear the water courses in that area.”
Asked whether a contractor doing work in the car park will be held accountable for blocking the water courses, Moonilal said, “Given the inconvenience we have faced, I intend to write the contractors. There are five contractors on that site for a small car park. I will ask them to take remedial action immediately.”
He also said he intends to get a report about the devastating flooding suffered by the Laldeo family who lives along the M2 Ring Road in Debe. Videsh Laldeo said since a private road was constructed near his home, the main drain has been blocked which prevents water from flowing out of his property. His 86-year-old father Dan Laldeo has been ill because of the frequent floods inside their home.