Moonilal: UNC, COP election talks ongoing
WITH LOCAL Government elections approximately five weeks away, UNC deputy political leader Dr Roodal Moonilal yesterday expressed optimism that discussions between the two major partners in the People’s Partnership Administration, the COP and UNC, would be concluded next week.
Some of the outstanding issues are reportedly the allocation of corporations between the two coalition partners.
He spoke at Priam Street, Diamond Village, San Fernando where he conducted an inspection of two houses which suffered structural damage following infrastructural work to construct box drains.
“Officials from both parties met last Thursday but we have not finalised arrangements as there are some matters still pending.
“We are hoping we will be able to go back to the table early next week and complete these matters,” Moonilal said.
Asked about the UNC’s screening of local government candidates, which started last Wednesday, he said, “that is coming along smoothly but it is a very, very long process. We continue tomorrow and so far we have screened for about five corporations.”
He did not identify which corporations had been screened but Newsday understands candidates for the Chaguanas Borough Corporation were screened last Wednesday.
Regarding work at Priam Street, Moonilal advised that a basket wall be also constructed to prevent further land slippage and the relocation of the two affected families saying serious bodily harm could occur should the houses collapse while respective family members are inside.
“At this location, infrastructure work has led to the near collapse of two houses that were always precarious but which has intensified the problem.
So we are now looking at the problem with the purpose of relocating the persons in the same village at HDC housing as emergency cases,” Moonilal said. He said an HDC assessment team would visit the site today and reminded them that the HDC houses were not free and they would have to enter into a mortgage agreement for same.
Moonilal, who was also scheduled to visit works at Ramai Trace, Debe, said plans were in place for the construction of a bailey bridge to replace a bridge which had broken down some 25 years ago.
“We are fixing roads and bridges, but there is a bridge that broke down 25 years ago and they are now organising to build the bridge and put in a bailey bridge and pave the road.
“So it’s a historic type of project,” he said.