Protest in Gasparillo over poor road conditions

FOR THE second time this year, angry residents of Parforce Road, Gasparillo, blocked the road with burning debris to protest the dilapidated condition of the road.

From around 6 am yesterday, residents of the area used burning tyres, old metal appliances and even a derelict car to block the road. This was done at the entrance of Bhagwansingh Trace, along Parforce Road and on the main road. For more than 45 minutes, commuters were forced to used other less-known routes or simply wait until the debris was cleared. Residents threatened to continue the protest if the problem was not addressed. Around 7 am, a team of armed police officers from the Gasparillo Police Station, arrived to quell the protests. The team of police officers was led by Ag ASP Carrington and included Insp Blackman, Ag Insp Kerr and Ag Sgt Balkaran. A tractor was used to remove the burning debris from the road. Up to 8.30 am, armed policemen stood guard on the main  road to avoid any  further protests.

The protesting residents numbering close to 40, were quite vocal during the protest with one man shouting that for more than 30 years, Parforce Road had not been paved properly. “Dey only use pitch and oil sand,” he shouted. The angry residents told Newsday that the condition of the road forced many taxi drivers to refuse their service for fear of damaging their vehicles. This has inconvenienced many residents, many of whom are forced to walk more than a mile to reach their homes. Numerous potholes and land slips have taken their toll on the road which continues to deteriorate. Contacted yesterday for comment, Tabaquite MP, Adesh Nanan said the condition of roads within Bhagwansingh Trace was due to  poor maintenance. He agreed that Upper Parforce Road was in a “deplorable condition,” although, he said, several attempts were made to have the road repaired. Nanan recalled that two years ago, part of Gasparillo was paved, with the exception of Upper Parforce  Road. “A lot of infrastructural work is needed before paving starts there,” Nanan said. He added that he would meet and hold  discussions with the Councillor for the area in an effort to get relief for the residents. Nanan also said he planned to make the relevant representations to the Local Government Ministry.

Communications Specialist at the Local Government Ministry Deodath Ojar Maharaj advised that the group of protestors should forward a memorandum to the Ministry stating the issues to be addressed. “In this way, they can get the regional  corporation to program it (the remedial work),” Maharaj said. He added that at present, funding for road building was coming from the Road Improvement Fund and the Minister was hoping for a greater monetary allocation, in the upcoming National Budget, so that repairs to Parforce Road and other roads could be expedited. Parforce Road falls within the jurisdiction of the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation.