Former Mayaro MP Winston “Gypsy” Peters says it is possible that he may have missed out a few flood victims when he was distributing relief items at his constituency last year.
His comments came a day after police raided his home at Mayaro and found hundreds of mattress, cases of water, blankets and other supplies meant to assist flood victims.
Peters’ son was also arrested and charged after a quantity of marijuana was found at the house.
Saying he had no reason to feel disheartened by the outpouring of condemnation from his former constituents, Peters said when the November floods hit, he did his best to help people from Mafeking, Kernaham, Cedar Grove and Crysosthom.
During his relief drive, Peters said he met “schemers” as well as genuine flood victims.
“It is not heart-rendering for me to hear what people saying because I gave out food hampers, mattresses and other aid all over the place. There are people in the country who will get and say they did not get. I cannot account for everyone,” Peters said.
Saying not all victims received relief, Peters added: “Nobody could go to all the places. We may have missed out a few flood victims but we did as much as we could.”
Peters said the relief items under his home was donated by corporate sponsors, many of whom did not want to be named.
He said even before he was an MP, he collected items for the poor. He said if anyone in his constituency had a genuine need, he would provide assistance.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation, Hazaree Ramdeen, said he got a pain in his heart when he read news that hundreds of mattresses and flood relief items were found lodged under Peters’ house.
“Gypsy was looking after the distribution of hampers and mattress. I know he distributed in Mafeking and Kernaham. I wasn’t with him all the time when he was distributing but I know he was distributing in some flood areas.
“He had his own constituency officers to help him. I get a pain in my heart when I read that story,” Ramdeen said.
He said most of the mattresses and donated supplies were kept at Sumairsingh Complex in Kildeer. “I know that the items were removed but I did not know they were still under Gypsy’s house. I thought everything was already distributed,” Ramdeen added.