(Trinidad Guardian) Hours after Rio Claro residents staged fiery protests for water, residents of Penal dragged kegs and barrels on the street to protest for water.
Beating the kegs using sticks, the residents chanted, “We want water! What we want? Water!”
Siew Rampersad told Guardian Media that life has become increasingly difficult for the residents of Teemul Trace, Naipalia Trace, Goodman Trace and parts of Clarke Road, Digity, Wilson Road, Rock Road and the SS Erin Road because of the ongoing water crisis.
“In some areas, people have no water for months. In other areas they getting twice a month but when they open the valve, the water falling slow. If you put a bucket there, it will fill up next Christmas,” he shouted as the residents applauded.
He added, “COVID 19 is here and they want you to wash your hands. But how you will wash your hands, sanitize and clean if you have no water?” he added.
With scorching temperatures, the resident say water shortages have been impacting negatively not only at home but also on crops and livestock.
Farmer Rampersad Lalchan who has 30 cows said he has been filling water in kegs at standpipes to give to his animals.
“I drive around a five-mile radius searching for water by any family, friend or standpipe I could find. Right now with the heat, the animals drinking more water,” he said.
Truck-borne water was not an option for some families who have been unable to afford a tank.
Another resident Tara Bridgemohan said with the threat of COVID -19 she too was afraid for her family.
“How can we clean and wash if there is no water? We deserve water just as people in any other area,” she said. She noted that her children were home and because of the heat they have to bathe more than twice per day.
Councillor for Penal, Shanty Boodram said there was a water leak near Goodman Trace which has been flowing for more than a year.
She said several reports had been made in the past but nothing was done.
“All this area has is leaks and flood. And we cannot get water. This is unacceptable. We will have to step up and protest outside Parliament if this situation is not addressed,” she added.
“Next week is budget, there will be raise in prices. everything is going up and we cannot get water. There is only flooding and no water in the pipe. Wew are citizens too. Our lives matter just like the people from West Moorings,” she added.
Meanwhile, WASA officials promised to bring relief.
In a statement, WASA said there were three different ruptures on the transmission pipelines at Barrackpore and St John, which occurred over two weeks.
“Repairs was completed on 28th September, 2021 and the service is being normalized to the affected areas,” WASA added.
Customers located at the lower level of the Teemul Trace area, have already received a pipe borne water supply, while customers at the higher elevations are expected to receive a supply by Thursday.
WASA said it has been delivering truck-borne water to customers in Teemal and Napalia Trace on Monday and Tuesday of this week.
