RADHICA DE SILVA
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
They have worked hard all their life hoping to have comfort in their twilight years.
But now, two pensioners from the remote community of Charuma Village are living in fear as a landslip threatens their homes.
Nandranie Nandlal and Sylvie Ragobar have been begging for help over the past year, after a landslip developed in front of their homes at 60 Charuma Junction Trace, Tabaquite Road, Rio Claro.
Showing gaping cracks inside her home, Nandlal said she was terrified of staying inside because of the constant cracks and creaks.
“It is scary staying here at night. I had to call my son Roshan to stay with me. He is a nurse and he left his home at Rio Claro to stay here because I am too afraid to stay in this house by myself,” Nandlal said.
Her husband died four years ago and Nandlal said she never imagined the home they built together would one day be threatened by a landslip.
She said the front pathway has become raised and the lower portion of the house sinks daily.
“If you look, you will see water running down the hill. There is a duck pond there and it is full. It means water is running,” she said.
Meanwhile, Nandlal’s neighbour Ragobar, 75, said she too was worried that her home would cave into the landslip.
“If I fall ill, how will they come here to take me to the hospital?” she whispered.
She said her son had to go to work and was forced to traverse on the slipping roadway daily.
“We need to get the road fixed. Charuma Junction Trace, Tabaquite Road is the main road. If they don’t fix it, where will we pass,” Ragobar said?
MP for Mayaro Rushton Paray agreed that the road was in dire need of repairs. Half of it has already caved and the other side is cracked.
“The Ministry of Works did a retaining wall about 10 years ago but it failed,” Paray said.
Contacted for comment, Minister of Works Rohan Sinanan said he will forward the complaint to the Bridges, Landslip and Traffic Division of the ministry, which will investigate the matter.
