Moruga gets water after protest

On Monday residents staged a fiery protest in the Santa Maria community to highlight some of the major issues which have been plaguing them for many years.

Two of the main issues were a lack of water as well as deplorable road conditions.

Pensioner Francis “Chico” Hospedales, 76, said he had not received a supply of water since Carnival and called on the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) to be more consistent in their distribution process.

“I am a sickly man and water is something we need daily.

Today water came for a few hours.” Under the previous government, water lines were installed in the rural community.

However not all the lines are functional and so, whenever there is a supply, only a few people benefit.

There are also public tanks within the community but the truck-borne supply is also inconsistent.

“No everyone gets water from the trucks. The trucks ensure however that the school (Santa Maria RC) receives a supply and whatever remains, the people get. No one wants to come in here. Just look at the road condition,” said another resident.

Residents complained that for too long the authorities have neglected them although the Penal Rock Road is the major road which links various communities like Penal, Barrackpore and Moruga.

On Monday president of the Penal Rock Road Community Council Lester Guevarro vowed to continue protest as residents’ patience have run out. He added that there are landslips, inadequate street lighting and no community centre to facilitate residents