Marlene to write Al-Rawi

MEMBER of Parliament for Port of Spain South Marlene McDonald yesterday vowed to write to Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi calling on government to institute legislation to settle Carnival issues that have been plaguing her constituents, especially in Woodbrook and St James for far too long.

Speaking at a media conference at City Hall in Port of Spain, McDonald said the yearly aftermath of Carnival revelry is one that leaves residents in despair.

“These issues are not new and since Carnival we have met with the National Carnival Commission (NCC), the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), the Woodbrook Police and the City Corporation with a mandate to resolve them. The residents don’t want to stop Carnival but rather to regulate activities associated with the celebrations,” Mc Donald said.

Residents want the authorities to establish a J’Ouvert route, get J’Ouvert back in downtown PoS, ban the use of paint in all J’Ouvert bands, have only the northern pavement on Ariapita Avenue used for vending and legislate on decibel levels especially during the wee hours of J’Ouvert morning and during las lap on Carnival Tuesday.

“As MP I am going to start a conversation with the AG to deal legislatively on this. Regulations must be put in place to minimise the inconvenience to residents,” McDonald said. Woodbrook resident Lynette Dolly, like McDonald, highlighted fellow residents’ key issues, stating J’Ouvert is a runaway horse with no rider and no route.

She lamented that there were over 30 new J’Ouvert bands that started in the Woodbrook area, long before the official 4 am start time, with loud music scaring elderly people, children and pets. She added that as the bands moved off, they did so using hoses to spray paint on masqueraders, and defacing walls of residents in the process.

Noting that J’Ouvert is not regulated, both Steve Lalbeharry of the EMA and NCC commissioner Darian Marcelle vowed to work with stakeholders to help alleviate the problems Woodbrook and St James residents face during and after Carnival.