Days after a major landslip claimed part of the roadway at Garth Road, Williamsville, Works Minister Rohan Sinanan has instructed Director of Highways Navin Ramsingh to investigate.
In an interview Sinanan said Ramsingh will send a team of engineers to assess the problem following which arrangement will be made to rectify the problem.
Chairman of the Jones Street Improvement Committee Ravi Raghunanan said last Friday an area at Scale Road Junction and Garth Road, Williamsville slipped about three feet, causing single lane traffic.
“A private contractor who operates a gravel plant next door brought in some landfill and did some remedial work so at least people can still pass but we need the government to fix this properly,” Raghunanan said.
Chairman of the Princes Town Taxi driver Association Wendell Baboolal said because of the deplorable road conditions taxi drivers were forced to raise their fares.
“People are already paying $8 from Princes Town to Williamsville even though it is only a five mile distance. This road is destroying our vehicles. The cost of maintenance is high and we have no choice at this point,” Baboolal said. He added that residents felt neglected and forsaken.
“These road conditions are affecting the health of the taxi drivers. We have 20 registered taxi drivers and 20 PH drivers and all of us are suffering. Some of us have opted not to work on that route because of the landslip and road conditions,” Baboolal added.
Another resident Alex Jones said during a walkabout six months ago, Sinanan promised to assist in repairing the land slippages at Garth Road and to fix the dilapidated Guaracara/Tabaquite Road which starts at Reform and goers through the communities of Ben Lomond, Williamsville, Whiteland, Mayo, Hardbargain, Ecclesville and ends in Tabaquite.
“We know where the landslides are and we have identified them to the Ministry. Garth Road is a disaster. We highlighted this on our Facebook page since last year but we did not get the support from the government. We went to the Ministry of Works and we were told the government has no money to do anything,” Jones said.
In desperation, the residents also contacted the Ministry’s pothole repair hotline at 623-MEND but nothing was done, Jones added. He noted that the lifespan of a road is about seven years but parts of the Guaracara Tabaquite Road has not been repaired in 20 years.
In a letter sent to Sinanan on April, 9, Naparima MP Rodney Charles called on Sinanan to intervene saying if the landslip worsens the area will be inaccessible.
“Pupils of the Brothers Road Presbyterian School as well as the early childhood centre will be severely affected if the road collapses,” Charles added.
