Senior Multimedia Reporter
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
The Siparia Regional Corporation is on the brink of becoming South Trinidad’s newest borough but despite the impending change in status, many burgesses are expressing doubts about the long-term benefits this will bring to the area.
With a population of nearly 87,000 residents, the corporation is responsible for 63 communities stretching from Icacos to Erin within a 51,000-hectare land mass.
When Guardian Media visited the region on Thursday, residents shared a mix of excitement and scepticism regarding the move.
Jason Lochan, who sells fruits at the side of San Francique Road, said Siparia’s infrastructure has to be upgraded before it could become a borough.
“They need to fix the road and the drains. Here, we have plenty of flooding. We also do not have streetlights and these days we getting a lot of robberies too,” Lochan revealed.
Balliram Lookhoor, also known as Joker, said he could not find a job. He also complained about the state of the roads.
When told that borough status would mean more access to public funds and more municipal police, both men said they hoped the new status will bring improvements.
But Ricardo Rajkumar, of Siparia, said he was not hopeful that life will improve.
“How is this going to benefit us? How will the poor man benefit? I don’t think this will make any difference,” Rajkumar said.
He noted that some parts of Siparia are crippled by a water crisis.
Businesswomen Seema Ramlochan agreed with Rajkumar.
“In Sunrees Road, we don’t get water for weeks and sometimes for months. We hope that the corporation will get its act together once we become a borough and fix the roads, drains and also deal with crime,” she added.
Water shortages have been a longstanding issue in the region, with sporadic protests several times over the years.
Meanwhile, at Banwari Trace, where the oldest pre-Columbian archaeological site is located, residents expressed hope that borough status will bring more community tourism.
Hamlet Harrypersad, who has been the caretaker of the Banwari site for over 20 years before it was handed over to the National Trust, said he was happy for the new changes.
“We need a lot of things in this area. Apart from proper development of this site, we need better roads and better drains,” he said.
The site is the oldest in the western hemisphere and dates back to 5000 B.C and is where the human remains of Trinidad’s oldest resident were found by archaeologist Peter Harris.
Siparia Regional Corporation chairman Dinesh Sankersingh said apart from the Banwari Trace site, they planned to upgrade the beaches in the constituency.
Cedros councillor Shankar Teelucksingh said he wanted a beachfront boardwalk in Cedros and boats for recreation, as well as vending areas in Cedros, Icacos Lagoon, and Columbus Bay. There are various historic sites at the Galfar beach end and other areas of interest that could develop our economy, Teelucksingh said. He called for a new Cedros market to accommodate small businesses, including vendors, barbers and hairdressers.
“We want a fire station built in Cedros and the development of the Security Complex to accommodate a local water taxi service from Port-of-Spain to Cedros. A yachting dock as well as the establishment of small hotels in the peninsula,” Teelucksingh added.
The residents say only time will tell if the new borough status will bring benefit to them, or merely be a symbolic gesture without meaningful change.
The Diego Martin and Siparia Reginal Corporations are both expected to be granted borough status. Diego Martin has 88,000 people. The corporation passed a resolution to seek borough status on May 2, 2019, while the Siparia corporation also passed a resolution on January 21, 2019.