Shastri Boodan
Freelance Writer
Cunupia residents blocked Warren Road with burning tyres yesterday demanding that the government immediately repair the dilapidated road.
The protest started around 6 am, blocking access to commuters from communities along the Southern Main Road who use the road to get to the Uriah Butler Highway.
Chaguanas West MP Dinesh Rambally warned that protests would increase in his constituency and other parts of the country unless the authorities at the Ministry of Works and Transport “get off their bloody butts and start doing their work.”
He said other roads in the community need urgent repairs, including Ajodha Road, Ramsaran Trace, Bejucal Road, Moore Trace, Ramlal Trace, Alligator Trace and Alligator Village.
According to Rambally, residents also plan to protest in front of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation.
“The government is under-resourcing the corporations, we are fed up with begging, pleading to get the roads fixed,” he said.
Rambally said he had raised the issue of the roads in Parliament and written to the relevant ministries but all his appeals have fallen on deaf ears.
“The people are getting angry and they are going to intensify their demonstrations,” he said.
Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said Warren Road is under the purview of the Tunapuna Piarco Regional Corporation. He suggested that Rambally work with Kamla Phagoo, councillor for Kelly Village/Warrenville, to get the road repaired
Sinanan said the Works Ministry is working with the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government on road rehabilitation projects across Trinidad. He explained that projects are assessed and prioritised pending the availability of funding.
The minister said while many people felt recent road paving work was a ploy for the Local Government Elections, that work will continue until all roads are repaired.