One day after a resident of La Horquetta Talparo died of a heart attack because an ambulance reportedly could not get to him on time due to poor road conditions, scores of residents came out in their numbers yesterday morning calling for the roadways to be repaired urgently.
The residents of Fletcher’s Road, Todd’s Road protested the horrible condition of their road infrastructure and landslips in the area.
La Horquetta Talparo People’s Revolution movement Chairman Councillor Ryan Rampersad led Sunday morning’s action together with Caroni East MP Dr Rishi Seecheran and Las Lomas/San Rafael Councillor Balmati Gosyne.
Guardian Media was told that a resident identified as Balchan Balkaran suffered a massive heart attack.
The residents claimed the ambulance could not get across a landslip to get to Balkaran, who eventually passed away.
Speaking with Guardian Media, Rampersad said there are five landslips in the area that are in need of urgent repair.
“The Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation is responsible for that road however we have absolutely no funding to carry out the magnitude of works required in that area there,” Rampersad said.
“I have visited the area with MP Foster Cummings one year ago together with engineers from various infrastructural agencies.
“They all looked at it they even took measurements and I understand that estimates would have been prepared for one or two of those landslips and we are into a new financial year and nothing is being said to the people, nothing is being promised to the people if these landslips are going to be fixed.
“Everyone is in limbo no one knows where we are standing and we want to know what is happening. We are calling on central Government agencies that are sufficiently resourced to please come in urgently and get the infrastructural repairs done because the regional corporation cannot undertake this type of work,” he added.
Efforts to reach the Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan proved futile.