New elevators free NHA apartment tenants

For the first time in eight years, 89-year-old Randolph Hall, an NHA tenant, left his eighth floor apartment to touch earth yesterday. Meanwhile, after years of “hiking” flights of stairs, other residents of  apartments in Almond Drive, Morvant and Piccadilly Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday received new elevators. The elevators, which were installed under the NHA Refurbishment Program-me, were commissioned yesterday by Housing Minister Keith Rowley. “We have seen people 80 and 90 years old having to walk up flights upon flights of stairs,” said Anthony Newton, Tenant Association representative for Almond Drive. “So we are more than happy for these elevators,” he added. Like others, Hall took the elevator ride down from his eighth floor apartment to touch terra firma for the first time in eight years.

Although he complained about his ill health, Hall was thankful for the new addition to the apartments. Other elderly residents who live on the top floors of the building were also grateful, since they too were kept indoors by the tedious walk. They said that it was only once per month that they ventured down the stairs to get groceries. The new lifts, completed on June 4, can hold a maximum of eight persons and a 630 kilogramme weight, said Carlton Robinson, managing director of RBP Lifts Ltd. He assured that monthly maintenance will be done to ensure that they did not malfunction like the previous ones. Rowley, after being met with words of appreciation from members of the two areas and after commending the residents for contributing to the development of the complex, visited the Mango Rose Field apartments on Nelson Street to view renovation works being done on the building.