Although T&T continues to suffer low quarterly revenues, San Fernando West MP Faris Al-Rawi has signalled his intention to ensure that “San Fernando gets its turn at the table.”
Addressing the launch of Spanish and cuatro classes by the Venezuelan Embassy at the San Fernando City Hall on Thursday night, Al-Rawi, who is also the Attorney General, said San Fernando has waited too long to get what it deserves.
“I can say quite openly that I have made a huge plea to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and the Cabinet of T&T to allow San Fernando its turn at the table, because we have waited for a very long time, patiently and civilly, to get that which we deserve as a city to see.”
Al-Rawi also vowed to deliver on his election promises, which included work on the long-awaited San Fernando Waterfront Development Project.
Al-Rawi said the glass was half full as he has already approached Rowley and the Cabinet on the possibilities for improved parking, health care and home ownership opportunities for southerners.
However, while promising exciting times in the months ahead, he expressed some caution, saying success would depend on the next fiscal year. A mid-year review of the budget is expected in March in the midst of continuing low-energy prices and higher costs of doing business with the US currency.
He said a survey would be done to deal with unemployment and underemployment issues and very shortly a polling division by polling division consultation would take place on the ground in his San Fernando West constituency.
“There are 55 polling divisions and we intend, on most Wednesdays, to be on the ground, in the communities, hearing from the communities to ascertain their needs and concerns.
“We intend to bring some significant life back to San Fernando. I can tell with great pleasure that the Waterfront Project is about to slingshot and that housing is fast on the ground.
There are a number of housing projects earmarked for positioning and we are doing an in-depth social survey, trying to deal with the underemployment and unemployment issues in terms of connecting employment opportunities with unemployment and underemployment issues.”
He said high on the agenda was the San Fernando General Hospital, as well as its parking and circulation issues.
He said the best way to weather the current economic environment was by cutting excess, while appreciating jobs and employment opportunities. He added that community spirit and volunteerism were also key to getting work done.
“There are a number of community projects that we are going to be driving, a number of local government issues that we are going to be driving, but to have ownership and success, it requires community participation. You don’t want to deliver something to a community that the community does not want or does not like and that is the intention behind the exercise.”