Repair PBR steps to Mt Hope hospital

THE EDITOR: The following letter is to Mr Roger Ganness, director of Highways Division, Ministry of Works, Richmond and Gordon Streets, Port-of-Spain. Dear Mr Ganness, Re: Urgent construction of steps leading to the Mt Hope hospital from the Priority Bus Route. My name is Nadine Julien and I am a national athlete. On Monday May 23, 2005 while I was walking down the steps which lead to the Mt Hope hospital from the Priority Bus Route, my right shoe heel stuck into one of the holes in the steps. I tumbled down and injured my both legs. As a result I had to seek medical attention and proceed on sick leave.

On Tuesday May 24, 2005 I called your ministry to cite the incident which happened to me on the morning of May 23, 2005. The person whom I spoke to said I had to call the Local Government, when I called Local Government they told me it was not their jurisdiction and to call the Tunapuna Regional Corporation. I called the Tunapuna Corporation, the person I spoke to told me to call the San Juan Regional Corporation. I eventually got through to the San Juan Corporation on Wednesday May 25, 2005 but was told to call back the Ministry of Works. Subsequently, the person I spoke to at the Ministry of Works said I had to speak to you.

However, when I called I was told that you were in a meeting and to call back. I called again and was asked to call back again and that continued until Friday 27. To date my situation has not been addressed because you were unavailable to receive my call. The steps are badly proportioned and members of the public as well as staff members have been subjected to injuries. I am scheduled to compete in a tournament from June 6-9, 2005.

I also have a fitness test to undergo with the Olympic Committee on June 11, 2005 for selection at the upcoming CAC games and due to my injuries I cannot compete. My proposal to your ministry is to treat this matter as very urgent and seek to send a work crew to rectify this health alarming situation before anyone else falls victim, God forbid, because pregnant women also use these steps on a daily basis to attend their clinic appointments. Thanking you in advance for your kind courtesies.

Nadine Julien
Sangre Grande