Toco deserted by all governments

THE EDITOR: Kindly permit me space in your paper to highlight the devastating and deplorable condition of the Toco Main Road. There are numerous broken away areas of the roadway that is presently under repairs by Pioneer Construction. Repairs began since 2003 to some of these areas and to date not one is fully completed. Are we going to wait until someone is injured or the lives of people taken away before speedy and urgent attention is given to the Toco Main Road? We at Toco are experiencing difficulties to cope with transportation. School children are affected, as the maxi taxis and buses refuse to pass. Public Transport Service Corporation has stopped the bus service.

The Toco Composite School has lost at least a week off and on due to the condition of the road. Tests have to be rescheduled, and educational outings for example, a visit to NIHERST Sci- Technofest Energy Festival and a Road Safety Seminar have been cancelled. Teachers complain of having to drive their cars through slippery and makeshift collapsible roads. Some are even contemplating transfers. It was stated by Mr Terry Rondon, Councillor Toco/Fishing Pond, recently that the Sangre Grande Corporation has arranged for drivers to use the one mile stretch of Morne Cabrite Road as an alternative route.

Instead, the Gajadhar Road is a shorter and more feasible option. One wonders where we will pass when the breakaway in Mission goes. Toco is known islandwide as a depressed area. Always deserted and forgotten by all governments. Since in the 1970s the only substantial, worthwhile institution we inherited is the Toco Composite School. Our access roads are impassible, farmers cannot get to and from their lands. There is only one proper savannah. Where is Mr Roger Boynes? What is he doing for/or in his constituency? We really want to know? We want to make it abundantly clear that you can fool some of the people some of the time but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.

ALBERT GEORGE
MARCIA HYPOLITE
SHARON PHILBERT
Toco