Rural roads should get priority

THE EDITOR: Good governance involves the prudent use of scarce resources to address areas of greatest need. This point seems to have escaped those who decided to repave large sections of the Butler, Beetham, and Churchill-Roosevelt highways, while totally disregarding important roads in rural areas, which have been rendered almost impassable by neglect over many years. During the periods that I have been stuck in traffic on the highways mentioned. I had the opportunity to check their condition, and I can declare without fear of contradiction that the surfaces of these highways remain in excellent condition and the repaving is a scandalous waste of taxpayers’ money.

I can understand now that the Minister of Works has been elected to office, he could have forgotten the areas outside of the city, therefore I must point out some of the roads that are in a deplorable condition. These include Gran Couva Road, Todds Road, Naparima Mayaro Road, Caparo Valley Road (between Tabaquite and Brickfield), and Durham-Mills Road in Caparo. I am sure that there are many others in other parts of the country. It would seem that in the frenzy to pave no needs assessment was done, because surely the repaving of these roads is not a priority. It could also be that the Ministry of Works needs to give the impression that things are being done, however, as a citizen I must request that the right things be done to improve the quality of life for country dwellers. If this government is truly one for all of TT, I expect the Prime Minister to halt this senseless waste and direct efforts toward the rehabilitation of the rural roads mentioned above.

DAVID SUBRAN
Chaguanas