(Trinidad Express) Claiming neglect by the People’s Partnership Government, residents set up burning barricades along every road leading to Point Fortin yesterday.
The protesters said they were fed up with empty political promises, and vowed to keep the fires lit until demands are met.
Member of Parliament for Point Fortin, Paula Gopee-Scoon, who was in Grenada yesterday, said she supported the protest action.
The protest involved residents in the People’s National Movement-controlled constituencies of Point Fortin and La Brea.
Resident John David said the roads from Point Fortin to San Fernando were in deplorable conditions and blamed the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) for failing to fix the roadway after repairing water pipelines more than a year ago.
He said discussions with WASA’s acting chief executive officer, Ganga Singh, have been unsuccessful and residents were demanding a meeting with Minister of Works and Infrastructure, Jack Warner.
“We were invited to a meeting at the ministry six weeks ago, but we did not get to see Mr Warner. We spoke to a Mr Wayne Riley and he promised to get back to us in a week, but he never did,” David said.
David said residents were disappointed that Warner had no project planned for Point Fortin when he toured Union Village, La Brea, last week. “We asked him what was in store for Point Fortin and he replied that there was nothing in the pipeline for Point (Fortin) yet,” David said.
David said residents were also demanding a new hospital in Point Fortin.
“The hospital we have here is not outfitted to attend to emergency cases and many people lose their lives as a result of the hospital’s inefficiency,” he said.
Residents are also protesting the removal of Community-based Environmental and Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) from the borough.
“The CEPEP contracts have been taken away leaving many people from Point Fortin without jobs. The place is in a mess—the bushes are overgrown and the drains in bad conditions. These are the things that CEPEP took care of,” he said.
Hundreds of residents were involved in the blockading of Vance River, Gonzales Village, Guapo and along the Point Fortin Main Road from as early as 3.15 a.m. They set bonfires along the roadway preventing vehicles from getting into the community.
The protest caused a massive traffic pile-up as workers attempted to get to companies along the southwestern peninsula, including Trinmar and Atlantic.
“No one was allowed to pass through. Many of the trucks and buses carrying workers to the plants turned back and left because they realised we were serious.
“Only emergency vehicles were allowed to pass,” David said.
The Express learned that employees at the Point Fortin District Hospital were transported to work in ambulances.
Police called in backhoes to clear the debris around 10 a.m, but the protesters blocked the roads when the officers moved on.
The Guard and Emergency Branch was summoned around midday as more residents joined in the protest. No one was arrested.
David said residents have been calling for better roads, hospital and employment for several years, but no one has responded to their concerns. “The People’s Partnership came and made all these promises, but nothing came out. Nobody has come to listen to us. We have been meeting with officials from WASA and the Ministry of Works, but nothing is being done,” he said.
David said residents were prepared to continue the protest until Warner agrees to meet and listen to their concerns. “We are standing our ground until the minister come and meet us and begin work on the roads immediately,” he said.
Gopee-Scoon said: “The roads were dug up by WASA and it was the Ministry of Works’ responsibility to repave the roads. I spoke to Mr Warner about it on several occasions and he promised that they would be repaired. Nothing has been done and I am in total agreement with the residents because they have to use that road everyday,” she said.
Gopee-Scoon said she had also written to Minister of Health, Dr Fuad Khan, requesting a new hospital in Point Fortin.
“I recall Mr Warner saying to the people of Point Fortin that they would get nothing following the PNM victory in the constituency and I am beginning to see the reality of that statement,” she said.
Warner could not be reached on his cellphone for comment yesterday.
