Works Minister: We clean watercourses

MINISTER of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan denied Opposition allegations of inaction by his ministry in clearing watercourses amid the current dengue outbreak and further said mosquitoes did not breed in rivers.

He was speaking with reporters on July 24 as he toured a renovated stretch of Manzanilla Road.

Recently, Caroni East MP Dr Rishad Seecheran alleged negligence by his ministry and the Ministry of Local Government, alleging, "In all central and southern constituencies, members of parliament are on record of requesting assistance (with) clogged drains and overgrown watercourses, in the areas close to residential areas, where the mosquitoes could thrive.

"These pleas have fallen on deaf ears. No substantial efforts are being undertaken by either ministry to clear these drains and watercourses."

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh has retorted that mosquitoes mainly breed in household utensils such as plant trays, guttering and water barrels.

Newsday asked Sinanan if he had failed to clean drains and river courses.

Sinanan said the Opposition was not making enough noise as they don't have anything to make noise about, so he wouldn't really comment on that.

"They are tying the Ministry of Works to dengue?

"The dengue mosquito does not breed in the river.

He said his ministry did clean major rivers and major water courses.

"If you look at the amount of work being done around the country over the last three or four years, that work has never been done in the history of this country.

"Yes, there is a dengue problem, but a dengue problem is not only Ministry of Works and (Ministry of) Local Government.

"Most of the dengue problem as the Minister of Health and the professionals indicated, it actually happens around your house – flower plants, the collection of water – because these mosquitoes breed in fresh water."

He said dengue was not just a problem in Trinidad and Tobago but the whole Caribbean.

"So it is nice to lay blame on ministries of Works and Local Government, but that is what the Opposition does.

"My work programme is not based on what the Opposition says. I have a team of professionals to work with me. They advise me and I operate with Government policy. The Opposition doesn't make my work programme, so I would not waste time with them."