Days after experiencing major flooding in their community, Woodland residents yesterday staged a fiery protest over the lack of pipe-borne water.
With dry taps over the last week, residents complained that they have been unable to clean their flood-ravaged properties and furniture, cook or even bathe.
Burning tyres along the La Fortune Road, the residents vented their frustration, shouting, “We want water, now.”
At Mungal Trace, 64-year-old Devika Singh was close to tears. She and her husband Satnarine, 72, said they have had no choice but to use purchase bottled water to bathe their 17-year-old physically and mentally challenged granddaughter.
Satnarine lamented, “Since the day of the floods here on the Saturday gone, it had water here, four feet of water inside of this house, the child stays underneath (downstairs apartment) there. From since then, WASA lock off the water Sunday night, up to today we had not a drop of water in the pipe.”
Devika said they have been unable to wash their clothes and she has not had a proper meal since then.
“I have to use fountain water to clean my property,” she complained.
Another resident, Angel Khan, a mother of two, complained that it has been difficult because the children had school.
“I clean up the inside because of the children with the tank water I had, but outside still in a mess,” she added.
Candace Sookram said they have been significantly inconvenienced.
“It difficult to cope. You can’t do anything without water. You cannot cook, you cannot bathe, you cannot clean,” Sookram said.
Imiaaz Baig was concerned about their health, as septic tanks on people’s properties had overflowed during the floods.
“If they let it go (water) in the night, people could still full up their tanks, they could still sanitise their place. Everybody cesspit overflow and people have children in the area. How you go let your children play in that, next thing they get sick, that is more trouble,” Baig lamented.
Meanwhile, Avocat North/San Francique councillor Doodnath Mayrhoo said while the People’s National Movement was celebrating its 50th anniversary on Sunday, the residents were suffering.
Calling for residents to receive a pipe-borne supply by today, he said, “I want to tell Minister Gonzales today, we cannot wait until Saturday and Sunday, the filth from overflowing cesspits are (sic) resting in the premises of people in this area, there is a health hazard looming in flooded areas in this country where there is no water.”
Meanwhile, WASA yesterday assured that the Woodland community would have received water in their taps before the end of the day.
In a response via email, WASA stated, “Woodland is one of the communities in South Trinidad that was affected by the shutdown of the Desalination Company of Trinidad and Tobago’s (DESALCOTT) Pt Lisas Plant for planned maintenance from Monday 28th November to today, when they resumed operations, with production gradually being ramped up to the Authority. The Woodland area will receive a supply later today, the Authority’s Operations personnel are monitoring the restoration of potable supplies to the area.”
WASA stated that this was communicated to the residents by its officials and the residents ended the protest and cleared the roadway after getting this information.