JP Birsingh:

Justice of the Peace Bissoon Birsingh, yesterday accused the People’s National Movement (PNM) of not providing basic amenities to the people of Aranjuez.

Speaking to Newsday at his Coronation street, Aranjuez home, Birsingh a member of the Cabinet appointed Poverty Reduction Task Force and Chairman of the Upper Aranjuez Village Council, said work started on the Aranjuez pavilion but ceased when the PNM came into political power in 2002.

He said the Progressive Youth Movement (PYM), a committee under the Upper Aranjuez Village Council in which he acts as president sent several letters to Prime Minister Patrick Manning stating their disappointment in the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation.

A frustrated Birsingh said “these Ministers are unapproachable and you can’t even talk to them.” He claimed the Aranjuez area was being ignored since many other communities in PNM strong holds such as Tunapuna, benefit from many beautification programmes through the Ministry of Community Development Culture and Gender Affairs.

Birsingh said the Prime Minister reacted to his allegations, by referring the matter to the Minister of Local Government Rennie Dumas, who responded in a letter via the regional corporation on September 13, 2004. That letter said after further revision by the Finance Planning and Allocation committee they could not render any assistance.

When Newsday visited the pavilion materials were seen wasting away, in what was the proposed site for the ladies bathroom.

Birsingh said the pavilion is the “Hub” of the Aranjuez community, frequently used for sporting events and lately by jogging enthusiasts.

During a short tour of the Aranjuez district, Birsingh pointed out to Newsday what he sees as the various struggles facing farmers. One of those struggles he said is that farmers produce were being stolen by drug addicts.

Birsingh claimed that at nights the pavilion becomes a den of illegal activity.

He said residents were scared.

Another challenge he identified facing residents is the lack of water in the area. Birsingh said many residents lived on side streets where WASA systems were not yet in place to initiate connections to their residential mains.

Aranjuez is a farming community, and Birsingh said the lack of water is adversely affecting farmers, since polluted water from the nearby Aranjuez Dam was used daily to irrigate crops.

The dumping of derelict vehicles, old tyres and gaping manholes also posed health threats he said.