Grande Gully to finally get its bridge

KINNESHA GEORGE-HARRY

Relief will soon come to residents of Grande Gully, Goodwood as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the National Commission for Self Help Limited (NCSHL) and the Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment (DIQE) to build a prefabricated single lane 36-foot bridge.

The MoU was signed on Tuesday, formalising a project which will bring relief to over 45 residents and other people frequenting the area.

Residents have been using a 12-inch concrete slab to cross the river but during the rainy season, the river becomes impassable when the river swells.

Self Help Commission CEO Elroy Julien said the MoU signing signals the commitment by both parties to assist the people of Tobago.

“We are committed to assisting the persons who are less fortunate in Tobago and we at Self Help, we are committed to ensuring that we achieve our mandate, which is to alleviate poverty and improve lives not only in Tobago, but in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.

Through this MoU, the arrangement will see co-operation between the two entities, where Self Help will provide the bridge and DIQE will take responsibility for its installation and maintenance.

Julien said, “A contract was signed with Unisure Ltd, who is the supplier.

“I am advised that within a three-month time frame, that bridge should be in Tobago and handed over to the division, who would start work almost immediately.”

DIQE Secretary Kwesi DesVignes said, “We have committed and are following through on a commitment to meet the people and to meet their needs as well, very often; building bridges speaks about connecting people.”

Overjoyed that the signing has actually come to fruition, Tobago East MP Ayanna Webster Roy recalled she was made aware of the issue by a Grande Gully resident at the airport in 2016 and since then she has been advocating for the bridge.

“I have been relentless in my advocacy on behalf of the people of Grande Gully, so today, it is with a sense of pride and satisfaction of gratitude that I am here to witness the signing,” she said.

The bridge, she said, would not only connect a community.

“It would help to further an agenda and that is the development of the people of Grande Gully. By the establishment of this bridge, we are providing opportunities for those residents to now be able to pursue their work properly, to pursue their education properly, but most importantly, give them a sense of safety and security.”