Resident: 'I want Mandingo Road landslip repaired now'

A resident at Mandingo Road in Princes Town on Tuesday expressed concern that planned work to repair a landslip there could be delayed and her home could be threatened. Shamina Mohamed told Newsday that the problems with the landslip started last August.

She lamented that nothing was done when the problem was small. Mohamed said while personnel from the Works and Transport Ministry have visited the area and promised that work would begin soon "still so far nothing."

Mohamed said she is concerned that if heavy rains occur in the area, and the landslip is not repaired, the foundations of her home could be threatened.

"This is an urgent matter. I want it done now."

She added that she is one of eight people who live at that property. Mohamed said she could not afford to relocate and did not have the resources to build another house elsewhere.

"I have nowhere to go."

Last Friday, Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said the ministry is engaging a specialist affiliated with UWI to analyse the soil type. Out of the results, officials would be able to pursue medium and long-term solutions. In the interim, the ministry would try to restore one-lane traffic by shoring and piling. Ministry officials, Sinanan said, know this will not hold without doing the necessary geo-technical surveys.

Moruga/Tableland MP Michelle Benjamin said, "The situation remains the same."

She previously said the affected community welcomes the initiative. Benjamin said initially they were told there the ministry did not have funding for the project. Sinanan dismissed this, saying the ministry has not been able to identify any official as having made that statement.

Since December 22, the ministry officially closed the road, which became impassable owing to continual land erosion. The movement destroyed a three-storey house and id threatening several others. The owners of the destroyed house, which residents said is still crumbling, moved out in December 2019.

Princes Town Regional Corporation chairman Gowrie Roopnarine hopes the ministry fulfils its promise to fix the road. “Other officials and I met with residents. After we heard the minister, we are hoping the work will be done soon. We are hopeful they would do what they said they would do. I know it is a huge project,” Roopnarine said.

He also said continuous land movement at the Naparima/Mayaro in Craignish Village, Princes Town, has left drivers complaining about its deteriorating state.