Trinidad and Tobago: Member of Parliament for Oropouche West Davendranath Tancoo received reports that flood abatement mechanisms were not functional and likely to result in mass flooding again in Woodland and environs with damage to property and livelihoods.
MP Tancoo has been working with the South Oropouche Riverine Flood Action Group (SORFAG) on this matter and has filed questions in Parliament asking the Minister of Works for a completion date for the long outstanding repairs to the floodgates and is awaiting his response.
Oropouche West MP said, “Today, the pumps at flood gates are not functioning, while only seven (7) of the floodgates themselves are partially working. Worse, even among the gates that are operational, we noted that seawater was moving upstream past the floodgates, adding to the water levels threatening to put Woodland and environs under water.”
MP Tancoo joins SORFAG President, Edward Moodie and constituents of Oropouche West in demanding that serious attention be placed to repairing the 14 flood gates, installation of pumps and manpower to manage the water flow effectively.
“This discrimination against the people of South Trinidad needs to stop now. Fix the Pumps and Floodgates NOW!” He noted.
According to MP for Oropouche West, Davendranath Tancoo,“The residents of Woodland and environs are fed up of being treated like second-class citizens. Why should pump and gate repairs take so long? It is a question of political will, and it appears that this Government has deliberately abandoned the citizens residing in Oropouche West. ”
Earlier, MP Tancoo met with a group of small landlords who are renting office space to Local Government Councillors throughout Trinidad. They advised that they were elated at having finally had their concern raised in Parliament. Landlords had not been paid for almost a year and had been extremely frustrated as their debts, including utility bills, had started piling up with threats of legal action pending against them.
