Trucks from Sangre Grande Regional Corporation were used to transport food, water and mattresses to marooned villagers at Le Mong Fishing Pond and Vega de Oropouche yesterday.
Sangre Grande Regional Corporation chairman Terry Rondon told T&T Guardian all agencies and employees of corporation and CEPEP workers were ready to go into the communities with backhoes and trucks yesterday, but the clean-up work was put on hold because the communities were still under water due to continuing rainfall. He said the rising waters also made it impossible to use any other vehicles besides trucks to transport relief items.
“We stand ready to assist the people of the flooded areas but await for the flood water to recede before any clean up work can begin,” Rondon said.
Rondon again accused unscrupulous land developers of being responsible for most of the flooding. He said it’s time to stop the talk and for action to take place, adding he wanted to know who is giving permission to these land developers and if the authorities make any follow-up visit to ensure they are complying with the building codes.
“This lawlessness of squatters and land developers must come to an end now,” he said.
He added, however, that most assessment of the damages had been done and this will be sent to the relevant authorities for processing.
Juteram said he felt sorry for those who spent days and weeks cleaning up in preparation for Divali only to be flooded out.
Today if the weather is fine, health officials will be visiting and clean-up work will begin from as early as 7 am.
RALPH BANWARIE