Tancoo to Rohan: Stop playing with people’s lives

“Why is this PNM government deliberately discriminating against the people of Woodland? I want Rohan Sinanan, the Minister of Works and Transport to explain to the people why work has not been done in the dry season to prevent flooding that costs millions of dollars in loss of property, livestock and crops every year!” demanded MP for Oropouche West Davendranath Tancoo.

Today, the MP visited several watercourses in Woodland. In one case, Ministry of Works personnel had brought heavy equipment on site, yet not a stone was moved, but the equipment was quickly loaded and carried away. It is obvious that remedial work on river banks and dredging water courses to prevent flooding, must be done in the dry season.

“Instead, No river banks were rebuilt. No rivers dredged. Nothing!”

This is the same area that was inundated by floods a few months ago, where millions of dollars in crops and livestock perished, while property and appliances were damaged, and livelihoods lost.

According to Tancoo, Minister Rohan Sinanan needs to explain to the people of this area why nothing is being done to prevent recurrence! Why were only the water lilies removed and other debris left? Why has no work been done on the river banks which had been breached in the last rainy season causing mass destruction and flooding?

Instead, it seems that this government condemned residents of this community to suffer. MP Tancoo stated that the solutions that will address flooding in Woodland, Tulsa Trace, Suchit Trace and environs are well known. Instead, all Mr. Sinanan is paying his contractors millions to do, is cosmetic mamaguy and property tax. Why are these taxpaying citizens being made into victims of geographic discrimination by this PNM government?

It’s time that Minister Sinanan and his government do their job! Our people do not want handouts! They want the government to do the jobs that our taxes pay them to do!

Is Rohan waiting for someone to die before he acts on this critical issue?