Real change from local govt reform?

It has been suggested by one of the parties that reform is imminent with the Tobago House of Assembly being the model for regional corporations in Trinidad.

However, I am not fully convinced that much will change for the better since on my last visit to Tobago, while walking along Milford Road, I saw a manhole across the width of the pavement covered by a piece of weather-beaten plywood, half the length of which had succumbed to the weight of a pedestrian.

In the Bon Accord area, there were canals filled with effluent from the villas located there as a result of poor drainage — an invitation for a Zika outbreak.

Across the road from the airport terminal, vendors were selling their wares in a sweltering hothouse unfit for human habitation.

While awaiting a bus to L’Anse Fourmi, I was told it was not working on that day and no proper information could be had since the temporary bus terminus had been removed to another temporary location. Temporary after all these years.

Even if all these observations were to be considered trite in the scheme of things, will local government reform bring real change in the way we operate or will it be business as usual? In view of this I ask these questions: * Are we going to see mounds of rubbish/silt heaped on pavements, especially on Fridays, only to be washed back into the drains over the weekend? * Are we going to see the Community-based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme and regional corporation workers competing in a least-performance contest? * Will councillors be answerable to regional corporations or community leaders? * Will the approach to the paving of roads be to dump asphalt in a pothole and have it pressed into place by passing vehicles? * Are we still going to see garbage dumped in full view of CCTV cameras and no prosecutions? Instead of the hype of “Let’s make it real”, I suggest let’s be accountable, especially to the taxpaying public.

MAHABIR TELOKA St Ann’s