Rousillac residents vow more protests over bad roads

FED UP: Grants Road, Rousillac residents warn a driver about a pothole he was approaching as they protested the bad road condition on Thursday. - Marvin Hamilton
FED UP: Grants Road, Rousillac residents warn a driver about a pothole he was approaching as they protested the bad road condition on Thursday. - Marvin Hamilton

Residents of Grants Road, Rousillac have vowed more protests if action is not taken to fix the deplorable road and bad drainage.

They staged a fiery protest on Thursday morning, blocking parts of the road where there were large potholes with logs, tyres, old appliances and other debris.

Resident Sookdeo Singh said it was unfortunate they had to resort to such action, but they planned to continue if the Ministry of Works and Transport does not provide some relief.

He told Newsday, “The road is very bad, and we took it upon ourselves to get the attention of the authorities after countless complaints which were being ignored.

“We not saying when or how, but we will protest again. Right now, we cannot take this. It’s more light-up for them.”

Police and fire officers were called on the scene to ensure order and to put out the burning debris.

When Newsday arrived, police were still patrolling the area as angry residents shouted, “Great is the PNM and this is the bulls--t we have to deal with.”

Singh said both United National Congress (UNC) councillors Javed Mohammed, for Otaheite/Rousillac, and Deryck Bowrin, for Mon Desir, were at the scene. The councillors have responsibility for Grants Road as their boundaries overlap.

Singh said, “People have lots of trouble with their vehicles, tyres burst, ball joints mash up and just fed up. No one is doing anything. No one is even bothering to patch up the big holes at least.”

Mohammed told Newsday the residents were frustrated and resorted to protest because their concerns were not being taken seriously.

“People of Grants Road are usually nice and calm people. For them to stage a protest like this only shows that they are fed up and frustrated. They are crying out for help.

“We (the councillors) are trying our best, but no one is taking our calls and pleas seriously. We wrote several letters to the Ministry of Works and Transport and not one has even been acknowledged.”

He noted that the last road upgrade was done almost six years ago, and with the increased traffic on Grants Road the infrastructure continued to deteriorate.

“It is an ideal route to get to Rousillac, Point Fortin, La Brea and other nearby areas.

“We were promised some material for temporary work from the (Siparia) regional corporation if we provided labour and some equipment, but that too was a failed promise.”

MP for La Brea Stephen McClashie told Newsday in WhatsApp messages that he was hoping to meet with the residents on Friday to discuss their situation.

He said, “Yes, I am aware of the protest and the conditions of the road. We are working in concert with the Ministry of Works and the Siparia regional corporation to rectify the conditions in the shortest possible time.”

In a statement on Thursday, the ministry said Grants Road is a secondary road which is being used extensively by cars, trucks and other heavy equipments while work is being done on the Solomon Hochoy Highway extension.

It said work on Grants Road was supposed to start this week but had to be pushed back because of rainy weather.

“It should be noted that at the end of the highway extension project, the Ministry of Works and Transport will conduct full road rehabilitation works along Grants Road, but for the duration of this ongoing project, every effort will me made to continue to keep Grants Road in a satisfactory condition for the travelling public.”

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