The South Western Peninsula is said to be the energy business hub of T&T, but yet the residents of Icacos and Cedros feel the area could be far more developed and their lives greatly improved. Simple amenities such as water, street lighting and public transportation have been deficient for years under every government administration, including the People’s National Movement (PNM), the United National Congress (UNC) and, currently, the People’s Partnership (PP) Government led by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
The eagerly awaited Point Fortin Hospital has been a major cause of concern. However, residents felt relieved this past week when they noticed that barricading works for the site had commenced, evidence that construction would begin soon. Point Fortin MP Paula Gopee-Scoon explained to the Sunday Guardian that she was faced with many challenges and was of the firm view that because she was an Opposition MP, her constituency did not benefit from an equitable distribution of resources.
“We have had some road works done and the completion of some projects but the projects that still need to be done are either slowly being done or just stagnant,” Gopee-Scoon said. “For instance, a water taxi service was promised and spoken of but that is still yet to get off the ground. Even the construction of the Point Fortin Hospital, if the Government was really serious about it, it should have been almost near completion, not now starting just as their (the PP Government’s) term is almost up,” she added.
Gopee-Scoon claimed she has been doing extensive lobbying for the constituency and has even persuaded some government ministers to visit her constituency, but still, she said, it was very difficult for her to get anything done. She also complained of constituents’ lack of interest in visiting her on her office days. “I am in office at least once per week but the people are not interested in coming to make any requests or to give any comments. I represent the people and there is no discrimination with me.”
Gopee-Scoon disclosed that Atlantic LNG had promised to help with skills training and disbursement of loans for people to start up their own businesses. She believes that this could be a positive start for the people in her constituency to develop cottage industries. She also called for the development of the Breeding Station. “Government needs to commercialise this and get it to a level where people will come in and buy goats and sheep.”
As the Sunday Guardian continues its pre-election constituency watch series, many people throughout the Point Fortin constituency grabbed the opportunity to highlight some of their major concerns. An employee at the Constance Estate in Icacos said there were plans for a project to deal with the land erosion but it had not yet materialised.
Sudish Ackool, 52, of Lalla Road, said the village lacked street lights and fishermen in the area had been promised a big shed equipped with electricity so they could bring their boats in to have them repaired. “Proper roads are needed and the widening and lengthening of the roads right up to the beach,” Ackool said. Chailo Ackool, 64, said he applied for a Home Improvement Grant which was approved, but after two years he was still awaiting the funds.
A fisherman in Icacos also spoke of alleged incidents where they were held for ransom by the Guardia Nacionale (Venezuelan lawmen) for up to US$7,000. “We are not safe out there. Our boats are seized and some of us face lock up sometimes in Venezuela and the T&T Coast Guard is nowhere to be found to help us or watch over us while we out at sea doing our trade,” the fisherman, who did not wish to be identified, said.
Elvis Jaggernath, 30, also of Icacos, called for education and trade programmes to be initiated in the area. He added that there were no play parks for the children in the rural community. Icacos fisherman Ragoonanan Bhola raised concerns over the dilapidated state of the Icacos Fishing Facility. “The facility was left abandoned but still we use it. They promised to have the building demolished and rebuilt but nothing. We need lights in the savannah for youths to play football at nights as well.”
Razack Abdool Ghany, 78, of Cedros, claimed that for ten years he had not seen Gopee-Scoon. Ghany called for advanced development in Cedros and the beautification of the beachfronts. “You should see here for Carnival and Easter, how many people does come here to relax and camp out. Better needs to be done and when it is done, we need proper maintenance crews to come in and clean up the beaches,” Ghany said.
Asha Dhanaram of Syfoo Trace, Granville, said she was fed up of hearing only promises. “I fed up ask for street lights. Also, there is no transportation to come in here. They promised us buses to work inside here but we still suffering. The roads are very bad as well. I feel is a waste of time because we would not get anything.” Kowsillia Lalchansingh, 47, of Food Crop Road No. 2, Chatham, said they had been experiencing severe water problems.
“We pray for the rain to fall so we can collect rain water. Right now we have barrels empty waiting for water trucks from the Siparia Regional Corporation to pass and they not passing at all to give us water,” Lalchansingh said. She said they were in desperate need of a regular, pipe-borne supply of water in the area. She also said they had been squatting on lands for over 20 years and wanted Deeds of Comfort. Deion Hendy, 29, of Newlands in Point Fortin, said for years he had been lobbying for speed bumps in the area as there were many road accidents.
“In 2012, a woman was fatally knocked down while walking along the road by a driver who was speeding. This was not the first. There are a lot of children that play on the road and in yards that do not have gates,” Hendy said. Wesley Elcock, of Egypt Village, Point Fortin, also called on the Government to regularise squatters in the area. A businessman from Point Fortin, who did not wish to be identified, believes that if the PP Government delivers in the area it would be viewed much more favourably by residents.
He gave the example of the pending construction of the Point Fortin Hospital, the Mahaica Oval and the Point Fortin Civic Centre. “These are much needed by the people. For years, the PNM took the people for granted and neglected them,” the businessman said. “People are fed up with outsiders coming into the South Western Peninsula for elections to represent them as their MP. They need someone from the area who knows the area and who can properly represent them in the Parliament and who can lobby for them properly,” he added.