After decades of fiery protests, muddy roads and damaged vehicles, Government is forking out millions of dollars to correct approximately one kilometre of road in La Brea that will hopefully bring long-lasting relief to residents.
But in outlining the task yesterday, Works and Transport Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said major work would have to be done over the next three months as experts at the Programme for Upgrading Road Efficiency (PURE) Unit had found a large amount of water under the earth's surface, which continued to undermine the road.
In addition, he said, the Pitch Lake was expanding, causing the road surface and surrounding areas to be pulled into its base located at the end of the affected stretch. Speaking at Point D’Or Junction, La Brea, he noted the recent protests that led to a brief halt in commercial activity along the southwest peninsula. He said the work had nothing to do with the protests as it was already on the ministry’s agenda for repairs. However, he said the Government was strapped for cash, given its large debts, fall in oil and gas prices and a depleted Treasury.
“Part of the reason we are here now is because money has now become available to do the work, notwithstanding a clear need. On that point I want to say, as you may now be aware, that mother Trinidad and Tobago is not as well resourced as she used to be.
“The Government is faced with serious cash flow issues. Your country is not earning the kind of money through oil and gas that it earned in the years past. Your country is faced with major public debt which has to be repaid,” Hinds said.
Dozens of pieces of equipment from Junior Sammy Group of Companies Ltd were already working on the road, which caused major traffic disruption for morning commuters. Although they were already removing parts of the road surface, Hinds said pumps would first have to be used to remove both surface and subsurface water. He said this large amount of water had accumulated because of poor drainage and ruptured WASA mains.
Crackdown on overloaded vehicles
Like many damaged roads around the country, Hinds said, the La Brea stretch was constantly damaged by truck drivers who were breaking the law. He explained that when the trucks were licensed, there was a specific load capacity given to the vehicle.
However, he said, people were overloading their trucks to cut back on transport cost and time.
“Perhaps there are not sufficient weigh bridges around the country so that law enforcement officers can easily and readily measure the weight of vehicles they see fit. Vehicles are, for selfish reasons and for profit reasons, overloaded. This overload has a serious adverse impact on our roads so as Minister of Works and Transport, one of the things I am obliged to do...is protect all roads.”
He said the La Brea stretch had to be built to a higher standard because it was a main thoroughfare for heavy vehicles.
Truck drivers protest
While Hinds, La Brea MP Nicole Olivierre and Junior Sammy, the managing director of Junior Sammy Group of Companies Ltd, viewed the work yesterday, several truck drivers from the Sobo area held a quiet placard protest across the road.
According to Seelal Narine, there were many independent truck drivers in the community who were out of jobs while the contractor had come to work in the area.
He said they had made attempts to meet with the contractor but were unsuccessful.
But in an immediate response, a meeting was arranged for tomorrow between the contractor and the truck drivers.
Landslip to be fixed
Hinds also said an invitation for tenders was sent out for slope stabilisation work in Chatham, which will be closed on July 28. He said the work will include 150 metres of reinforced concrete retaining walls, drains and other rehabilitation work, which will begin by mid-August.