RADHICA DE SILVA
Senior Multimedia Reporter
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Woodland residents yesterday expressed disappointment that water had not been restored in their community and renewed their calls for the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) to provide a truck-borne supply.
Tenant Trace, Ramcharan Trace and Pluck Road, San Francique were among the areas still without a pipeborne supply.
Rain yesterday morning provided some relief for the residents who were able to collect water for livestock and do laundry after almost a week of scorching heat.
Farmer Ian Ramlochan blamed the sweltering temperatures for the loss of ten goats. He said he was forced to sell ten more at low prices and is now left with only 20 animals.
“The past couple of days were very hot. We have animals and some of them end up dying in the heat from heat stroke and lack of water. We are not getting water from WASA and we had to sell away a number of them,” h said.
Ramlochan said he was able fill barrels with rain water for his livestock but the quality of the water was not suitable for use. He said his high-bred Sanaan goats catch diseases quickly and have to drink purified water.
Another resident, Shirley Harripersad, said there were piles of dirty clothes in her home.
“It is hard for us. We have to take the clothes by my sister in La Romaine to wash. I don’t know why we are paying a bill, why?” she asked.
Another resident, Keddy Mahadeo, who lived abroad for most of her life but moved to Trinidad 19 years ago, said she is fed up with the water shortages.
“For years, this area doesn’t get water. It’s very difficult because my husband is not well and I need water to do everything,” she said.
Ingrid Sookdeo complained about difficulties with her bedridden husband. She said their tanks were low on water.
“If we could get water once per week or twice per week, we will be okay but we cannot stretch it to three weeks and a month without water. That is extreme,” she said.
Avocat/San Francique councillor Doodnath Mayrhoo said he received more than 50 calls yesterday from residents who had no water.
“WASA has said they are looking at running an eight-inch line from the M2 Ring Road along the crossroad to bring water to Woodland but that is in the planning stages so we looking at the next five or ten years. It is unacceptable that people are suffering for a basic thing like water,” he said.
Oropouche West MP Davendranath Tancoo has arranged for a meeting between WASA officials and residents for 5 pm on Friday at the San Francique Hindu School to discuss the situation and find solutions.
Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales has denied Tancoo’s claims that the government is deliberately crippling WASA and playing water politics by depriving certain areas.
Contacted for comment, WASA’s Chief Executive Officer Kelvin Romain said pipe borne water has been restored in some parts of Woodland and truck borne water is being arranged for residents in the higher areas of Tenant Trace.
Under the existing schedule, residents of Syne Village, Gonzales Trace, and De Gannes Village, including Lily Trace and Gonzales Trace, started receiving water yesterday. Siparia Old Road will receive tomorrow and Friday and San Francique over the weekend.