Oropouche West MP Accuses the PNM Administration of discriminating against UNC- controlled Corporations

The Member of Parliament for Oropouche West, Mrs. Vidia Gayadeen-Gopeesingh has accused the PNM administration of purposely withholding resources from the UNC controlled corporations in light of the San Fernando Mayor’s statements during the PNM’s meeting in Pleasantville on Tuesday.

In a release issued on Thursday the MP stated, “It is abhorrent that a Mayor, can boast and praise the Minsters of Finance and Local Government for budgetary allocations to the tune 27 million dollars over the past three years to conduct projects in 9 electoral districts in San Fernando. Conversely, the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation (PDRC) which borders the Constituency of San Fernando West and has a similar composition has been denied allocations to provide basic necessities to the burgesses of the area.”

Commenting on the issues affecting the PDRC, Mrs. Gayadeen- Gopeesingh continued, “The Corporation is on the verge of collapse. Funding has not been issued for Councillors to pay rent for their offices although the Minster is aware that landlords have threatened eviction. What is more alarming is that there are no resources to even paint a white line on the road nor materials for construction. Yet, we have Mayor Regrello praising Ministers Imbert and Hosein for all that they have done to assist him.”

The MP noted that the PDRC is bombarded with requests that they cannot fulfil due to unavailability of funding. Constituents make simple requests for their drains to be cleaned, and even to have speed humps placed and the Corporation cannot assist due to lack of funds.

Mrs. Gayadeen- Gopeesingh concluded, “This blatant display of discrimination towards a UNC strong hold and it cannot be allowed to continue. Why is it so difficult for the PNM to provide the funding to ensure that basic necessities are provided to the citizens they were elected to serve? Perhaps they are purposely stifling resources to attempt to claim a seat in the PDRC in the upcoming Local Government Election. ”

Vidia Gayadeen- Gopeesingh

Dated: 11^th July 2019