radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Fiery road blockades across a three-kilometre radius between Williamsville and Princes Town before dawn on Monday sparked more than just the usual protests.
It prompted profanity from road users caught in traffic who directed their disgust at the Government and the contractors who have been traversing the nation’s roads with heavy equipment.
Ram Garib, a taxi driver of Tableland, said the Naparima/Mayaro Road was in a state of disrepair because of the heavy equipment which passes there daily.
“Since the Tasker Road broke down everything passing on the Naparima Mayaro Road, they mashing up our roads more every day. Soon we will have no place to pass,” he said.
Another passing motorist, who was on his way to drop his wife to work, also chastised the Government saying people were putting up with too much.
“Look at the drivers here protesting. The road is bad, we can’t pass in some areas. We have to park up. The taxi fares raise, the gas price raise, grocery raise but we pay (salaries) can’t raise,” he shouted.
Gesturing at the potholes on the road, he added: “Watch we car, watch the tyres, watch the road. We here this morning without a cent in we pockets. We need this government to change. We need change in this place and we prepared to go right down until we lie down,” he thundered.
Another woman, who was passing by in a maxi taxi, also vented, hurling expletives at the authorities who have failed to stop contractors from traversing the roads with heavy vehicles.
“If was a next area, or a next village they would have fixed this road. These people only *expletive* up this road with their heavy vehicles,” she shouted, before driving off.
President of the Williamsville to Princes Town Taxi Driver Association, Wendell Baboolal, said Garth Road was almost impassable. He said Garth Road Extension, Naparima Mayaro Road, Iere Village and other side streets were dilapidated and caving with multiple landslips.
“Our route is Garth Road to Williamsville and the road is 90 per cent impassable. We have to spend a lot of money to maintain our vehicles, the road is horrible and with the high price of gas, it is becoming ridiculous,” he added.
He noted that Williamsville Junction, the bottom of Garth Road Extension and Naparima Mayaro Road was blocked.
“We are not even getting remedial works. Our vehicles are going at a 90-degree angle to pass through. We have a few landslips. There is a five per cent chance to pass. There is a connecting route. The Ministry of Works say they have no money, The Corporation tries to fix it.
This morning they came out at 3 am. We want some work so at least our vehicles could pass,” he added.
MP for Naparima Rodney Charles visited the protesters and said he sympathised with the public.
“The Government sitting in Parliament don’t care. We go to the media and this get covered and they still don’t care. This Government have no shame. They do not care. They watch me and laugh because I am a country bookie. We ketching we nennen,” Charles claimed.
He said the Government should treat everyone equally
Charles also said Works Minister Rohan Sinanan was not to blame.
“It is not Rohan Sinanan eh. It is Colm Imbert. He is not putting the surplus money from energy revenues to make the lives of citizens comfortable. We are fed up. We don’t know what to do. We want to protest peacefully, so Dr Rowley, Colm Imbert, Faris Al-Rawi, and Rohan Sinanan. Come and do your work. You get $80,000 a month, earn your keep,” Charles said as the protesters applauded.
Last week, Sinanan said $450 million was now available to begin road works across the country. He said technical teams have been assessing road infrastructure and works will begin in critical areas shortly.