T&TEC yesterday brought some relief to residents whose power supplies were affected by the flooding disaster along the Manzanilla/Mayaro Road.
The crew restored the residents’ electricity supply after they went without power for a few days.
The T&TEC crew worked in tandem with a LAING contractor, who cut and removed fallen coconut trees so they could gain full access to the affected power line.
Heavy flooding along the Manzanilla/Mayaro Road on Wednesday not only damaged the roadway but brought down coconut trees, electricity poles and wires.
The Ministry of Works and Transport has since declared the road closed to vehicles. It is hoped the road will be reopened by next Wednesday
Yesterday, the T&TEC workers still had to work in areas affected by floodwaters.
Ministry of Agriculture Forestry Division workers were also seen taking photos and notes.
Residents Mohammed and Singh were seen traversing through the floodwaters on their ATVs. They said the water in their area had still not subsided and was about four to 6 feet from Kernaham to Cassadu Trace. Most residents said the floodwaters will take a few days to subside and the tide plays an important part in this process.
Singh told Guardian Media that the flooding was affecting them mentally and financially.
Cocal Estate workers Eric Ramdeen and Edmund Charles told Guardian Media it was not safe to continue to some areas due to the floodwaters.
Taxi drivers and commuters also on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to repair the roadway now and not wait until the dry season.
Kevin John, who works at a supermarket in Sangre Grande and lives in Mayaro, said paying $90 a day for transportation was a financial burden to him.
“I used to travel by PTSC bus and was able to have some money to buy food, but with this sum of money I have to pay for transport is just working to pay transportation. Luckily, I have a blessed boss who gives me full pay and asked that I report for work only on weekends.”
Taxi and maxi taxi drivers also called for relief from the deplorable roads from Rio Claro through Biche into Plum Mitan and into Sangre Grande.
John Thomas, a taxi driver, said if work is not done quickly, he is afraid drivers will stop operating one the route.
He said normally when they were using the Manzanilla /Mayaro Road, they take about 45 minutes to one hour to reach Sangre Grande. With the diversions they now have to take, the journey is one to two hours.
“It is very tiring,” he said.
Mary Baptiste said the Government should also consider financial assistance or some social grant for parents who have to fork out more money to send their children to school.