Angry residents of Vega de Oropouche staged another protest yesterday, taking their demonstration closer to Sangre Grande in an effort to get the relevant authorities to immediately address road conditions.
Close to 400 residents joined in the protest burning tyres, debris and placing mounds of dirt and fallen trees at various points on the Vega de Oropouche and Fishing Pond Roads bringing all activities in the agricultural districts to a halt. Vehicles were unable to use the road.
Yesterday’s protest began at 4 am and stretched to Boodooville Highway and El Repose making it impassable as there was no other way in or out of the villages.
Ramsumair Dookhantee, spokesman for the residents, said there are pot holes one and two feet deep.
Several taxi drivers also complained that their cars cannot be kept clean because of the dirty water in the pot holes; also, their vehicles often needed repairs.
One taxi driver said, “This cost us extra money...We have not increase the fares as yet because we are aware of the difficulties families are experiencing."
Police officers and firemen responded to the protest, but they also were stranded and could not move into Vega de Oropouche until 10.30 am when a backhoe from the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation arrived and removed the dirt placed on the road at El Repose.
The backhoe broke down and assistance had to be sought from soldiers at Camp Cumuto, who arrived and removed the debris, trees, mounds of dirt and other discarded materials placed on the road.
Dookhantee said the protest will be intensified as the residents will take it to Sangre Grande until restoration work is done.
MP for the Cumuto/Manzanilla area, Christine Newalloo Hosein, said she fully supported any protest action organised by residents.
Hosein said despite several appeals to the relevant authorities nothing has been done to alleviate the suffering of the people at Vega de Oropouche and Fishing Pond.
On April 19 the residents were assured by WASA that the laying of pipes would resume from May 1, but to date nothing has been done.
Yesterday, the residents mounted protest for a second time and called on WASA to complete the laying of pipe lines so that restoration work on the road could continue.
The road has been paved up to Nonpareil Estate.
The residents said they were also informed that money was approved by the last government to have the works on the road completed.
Terry Rondon, chairman of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation, visited the scene. He said he fully supported the residents’ protest. He said he usually never supported protests, but this one he has to.
He said, “It is injustice to the people of Vega de Oropouche and I still cannot understand why the delay in having this road completed.” He reported that he wrote to the various agencies but received no response that the work on Vega de Oropouche would continue
Rondon again emphasised that the repairs in Vega de Oropouche and Fishing Pond Road were not under his jurisdiction but falls under the Ministry of Works. He, however, assists the residents when he can.