No response to 'disasters' from anyone in authority

THE EDITOR: The last 12 days have been disastrous for some 250,000 citizens. Everywhere you turn, people have been crying and begging for water, only to be met with lame excuse after lame excuse from WASA, hogwash from the Minister of Public Utilities and a deafening silence from the PNM.

We have been in a disaster situation for the last 12 days and there has been no ramped-up response from anyone. Why wasn't the army called out to drive water trucks to affected areas? I mean, because they aren't there when there are floods and are only mobilised when the UNC protesters come out is no excuse.

We have been going from "disaster to disaster." There was a flood just weeks ago from a short shower of rain – no response from anyone in authority. This was followed by a million-dollar fire in La Romaine and the response from the fire service was similarly lacklustre and lame: they had problems with water and breathing apparatus.

Only recently the media highlighted a gushing spring on Abercromby Street ­– WASA ignored it. This was in the context of a businessman lamenting how much water was going down the drain while he and many others were forced to close their businesses.

Just next to him were gaping holes at the corner of Queen Street filled with water and lower down just before the Parkade there is now a new spring as there is a deep gash in the road filled with water.

No one sees these things and then Prime Minister Rowley has the gall to cry out that local government's property tax will be the panacea.

Like the Health, Education and National Security Ministries, this Government must hang its head in shame.

LINDA CAPILDEO

Port of Spain