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alexk
Guest
Urging people to brace for devastating floods, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has slammed Government for failing to provide resources to local government bodies to clear water courses and build drains.
Speaking at the 15th annual Penal/Debe Regional Corporation’s Civic Reception and Awards Ceremony at the Paria Suites Hotel in La Romaine on Saturday, Persad-Bissessar said she was worried about the floods that could come next month because of Government’s failure to clear the major water courses in the Oropouche Basin.
“Today, we are already in the month of May, and the rainy season will start shortly, and for many in this area, and in South and Central Trinidad especially, will be worried about what that may bring – floods. Last year, farmers, whole villages were devastated by flooding and relief was not forthcoming from the Government,” she said.
Lamenting that Government had made no proactive action to prevent a recurrence of such a disaster, Persad-Bissessar said the various regional corporations had not received the necessary funding to alleviate floods. She claimed under her watch, the region did not flood as it did last year.
“When we were in government we were criticised for building box-drains—they would often try to ridicule us by calling us the “box-drain government.” But we had a plan to deal with the perennial flooding problem, and proper drainage is one of the critical elements of any flood mitigation plan.
“Is it then that they remain so fixated on this, that they would not take steps to fix the problem? At your expense?” she asked.
She noted that promises were made to reform local government but this has not been done.
“Another one of the promises they made with regard to local government reform was the hiring of more municipal police. We’re aware that jobs were advertised and interviews conducted in some areas, but what is the status of this? While they continue to delay, criminal activity continues unchecked,” she said.
In an interview with the media after the function, Persad-Bissessar said she was hoping there will be no new taxes in the mid-year review which Finance Minister Colm Imbert will present in Parliament on Thursday.
“I am concerned and I trust that there will be no new taxes.”
She noted that based on documents received from Government, the current account is in overdraft from $6 billion to 9 billion.