Works Minister: 'We're working on Mandingo Road'

Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan has expressed "great concern" over the involvement of Moruga/Tableland MP Michelle Benjamin in a midmorning protest on Thursday in Moruga.

"While many view this as a means to gain the government's attention, such activities only undermine the integrity of existing road infrastructure and the works being undertaken by the ministry," a release from the ministry said on Thursday night.

"I would strongly recommend that in the future, the MP engage with the ministry to provide accurate information to her constituents on the progress of projects in her area."

On Thursday, Benjamin, an opposition MP, joined residents of Indian Walk to demand that the government first fix the most deplorable roads in her constituency, like the impassable Mandingo Road via Princes Town.

Yet again, the minister said the ministry is actively addressing the major landslip at Mandingo Road.

At the protest, the MP called on the ministry to use the funding for the Indian Walk project, which is passable, on Mandingo Road.

Sinanan said the question of redirecting funding from the Indian Walk project did not arise.

"All of the projects are being allocated funding by the government. In the Princes Town area, there exist a total of 78 landslips. For decades, the ministry has invested millions of dollars in rehabilitating roads in this area," Sinanan said."However, numerous underlying factors continue to accelerate the continuous formation of landslips."

As a result, the ministry said it had engaged geologists to determine if there are underlying geological formations that may contribute to the "innumerable" landslips in this area.

Sinanan said while it may appear to residents that work is not being expeditiously undertaken, this is not the case.

He explained the delay by saying, "I would like to assure that the ministry is required to undertake the necessary investigations, analysis and design to ensure that the works implemented are sound and can meet engineering standards."

Road repairs are expected to resume soon on the Moruga Main Road near the Mt Pleasant London Baptist Church over the past three years.

Sinanan said the ministry has been undertaking projects at Lengua Road, Indian Walk, and the Naparima Mayaro Road, and rehabilitation has been completed on the first segment of Lengua Road. This included installing drainage, road strengthening, landslip repairs and road-paving. He said the ministry would subsequently undertake improvements to other segments of the road.

"Additionally, (the repair to) the major landslip that has severed connectivity (sic) in this area is currently in its final design stages," Sinanan said.

On the landslip at Robert Village in Tableland, he said, "A contract award to undertake these works is expected shortly."