We should not need to beg for relief

THE EDITOR: With the local government elections (LGE) looming and the many candidates vying for votes on the hustings, there are a few salient questions that can be asked at this time.

1. Why is it that candidates of the various parties are so visible at this time but after being elected the successful candidates become invisible?

2. Why do the elected councillors not respond with urgency to the cries of suffering burgesses?

3. This one may be for councillors and also parliamentary representatives. Why do citizens have to beg for relief from floods, landslides, deplorable road conditions, lack of public utilities and healthcare?

4. Why does the central and local government representatives keep shifting the blame on each other?

5. Why is it that neither the Ministry of Works nor Ministry of Local Government ever knows who is in charge of roads that need fixing?

From these questions it seems obvious that the very purpose for which local government was created has been defeated. It seems that it has become a convenient tool for those in authority to keep shifting the blame for, for example, road repairs and in the end nothing gets done.

Perhaps all roads should be placed under one umbrella so there would be better data collection, planning and execution of repairs. More than 50 per cent of the country is crying out for better roads.

Citizens should not have to beg parliamentarians nor councillors for relief from natural disasters, upgrade of physical amenities, medical assistance and provision of public utilities.

The awareness of the needs of the people, collection of data and co-ordination of planning and execution of relief are the reasons why those in authority are paid exorbitant salaries and allowances by taxpayers. If they fail to deliver then they should be replaced.

WKS HOSEIN

Chaguanas