Penal family gets electricity

The new school term should get off to a bright start for 11 siblings who squat in Penal after they got an electricity supply for the first time ever.

The children are those of Parbatie Chance who, along with her husband, got a visit from their MP, Minister Stacy Roopnarine, the Self Help Commission Chairman, Mr. Surujdeo Mangaroo, and officials of T&TEC and WASA on Wednesday in a bid to make their lives a little more comfortable.

Last year, the Self Help Commission shared some yuletide cheer with Ms. Chance and her 11 little ones. But even then, they were left in darkness.

They have lived in a half wooden, half galvanized structure for years.

Despite their struggles, they still can manage genuine smiles on their little faces, perhaps just honoured to meet the Minister, or just simply grateful.

So on Wednesday, with the persistence of the Self Help Commission, their MP, and the Trinidad & Tobago Electricity Commission, they finally received electricity.

MP Roopnarine said: “They have been without electricity for many, many years now, Ms. Chance will tell you, these children have been working under very terrible conditions to get their school work done. In the night time, they will be studying by candlelight and flambeau and so on. So it was a very important project for us to bring electricity to this household.”

The Minister said it was an almost three-year challenge to get electricity access to the squatting family.

The Self Help Commission Chairman, Mr. Surujdeo Mangaroo, pledged his continued support for the family, but took the opportunity to urge Ms. Chance to help herself and her bunch.

“I want to assure the family that we will continue to support you, but at the same time you have to do your part as well.”

WASA officials were also part of the visiting delegation because next on the agenda will be a pipe-borne water supply for the family.

Written by C News