RADHICA DE SILVA
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Fed up with dry taps, residents of Rio Claro staged a fiery protest early this morning calling on WASA to bring a pipe-borne supply to their area.
The residents heaped old tyres near Campbell Street Junction which they set ablaze.
The protests triggered a massive traffic pileup along the Naparima/Mayaro Road leading to Rio Claro.
MP for Mayaro Rushton Paray told Guardian Media that while he did not condone blockages of the street and fiery protests, he sympathized with the residents many of whom have not received water in over two months.
He said over 12,000 people from 26 communities in the constituency have been without water. The situation has been exacerbated by truckers who have stopped distributing water because of non-payment of salaries.
"The situation is overbearing and they have decided to show their disgust against WASA and its poor provision of water in the constituency.
"I do not support any type of activity like that. I understand the nature of the frustration. There is silence from WASA and there is no water truck service. Contractors are holding back their services because of non-payment of water. It is a horrid situation and I am calling on WASA to communicate immediately and let residents know which projects will be executed in the short term to alleviate this crisis," Paray said.
He noted that the 26 communities from Poole to Biche to Guayaguarare are serviced by the Navet Dam and there are ongoing problems with the San Pedro booster.
"WASA tried to change the booster pumps this week. Water coming from the Navet dam has to serve Biche, Tabaquite, Kernaham and Cascadoo but if there is one disruption, thousands are affected," Paray said.
He called on WASA to drill more wells and utilize areas owned by Petrotrin which could bring a further 1.5 million gallons of water in the constituency.
Apart from the domestic water shortages, Paray said hotels and guest house owners were feeling the pinch as community tourism was at a standstill.
He said offshore workers who are kept in holding bays for seven days before being allowed to go on platforms, were also suffering because the holding bays also had no water.
Guardian Media will bring you more as this story unfolds.