RALPH BANWARIE
Matelot has been reconnected to the rest of Trinidad as a bailey bridge has been installed over the Bacasa River, allowing vehicles and villagers to move out and into their community.
The village was marooned for the last few days after heavy rains caused the bridge to be washed away on Wednesday, separating the villagers from the rest of the country.
Matelot villagers were able to get relief supplies like water, tins of bread, biscuits, cots, rice, battery lamps, and two-burner stoves to assist them, around 1 pm yesterday
They also received supplies for the babies of the village which included wipes, diapers, and milk.
Wazir Mohammed, senior supervisor of T&TEC, and his crew were able to restore electricity to the villagers early yesterday morning.
Sherland Sheppard, director, WASA Operations, told the Sunday Guardian that water supply would be restored by last night.
However, villagers were complaining about their telephone connection, which has not been restored.
MP for Toco/Sangre Grande Glenda Jennings-Smith and councillor Terry Rondon were very happy to receive relief supplies for the villagers of Matelot.
Jennings-Smith promised villagers that the landslides and deplorable road conditions would be addressed in the quickest possible time so that their lives could return to normal.
She appealed for an ODPM office be established in Toco, so emergencies and disasters like this one can be addressed quickly.
