Hope in Hosein, Sinanan

The word, “hope,” is widely used by evangelists, during political campaigns and even when people get sick. That is, the “hope” that things will get better, don’t give up, etc.

The workers at this Arima office told me they “hoping for a new building soon.” This promise has been made many times, with hopes dashed many times too. I sympathise with the workers there, I hope somebody will now listen, particularly new Minister of Works and Transport, Rohan Sinanan who pledged “a corruption- free” ministry and expeditious consumer service. Arima MP, Anthony Garcia has a duty here too.

Also Public Administration Minister Maxie Cuffie.

Mr Sinanan, let’s hear something now about the Arima Licensing Office, please. And the Chaguanas Licensing Office too, After all, the number of vehicles and drivers has increased by over 1,000 percent since these offices were there. Proper office space and facilities help ensure reliable record-driven evidence, especially for tracing vehicular fraud or other transportation-linked crimes.

At a recent FM 96.5-sponsored community policing launch in Cunupia, Acting Inspector Christopher Swamber, quite diligently showed how effective licensing statistics could be used for crime-fighting.

New Minister Sinanan brings a fresh, friendly-looking understanding to his job. He has a golden opportunity to fix things now. His promise to fix pot-holes is commendable, but fixing office conditions will bring added value. And this is where the other new minister, Kazim Hosein, comes in. Last year, this column commended Mr Hosein as San Fernando Mayor for the hands-on manner in which he began to handle the Borough’s traffic challenges, street-vending, irregular health and building permits, even resisting criticisms while doing what was right.

As Minister of Rural Development and Local Government, Mr Hosein should work closely now with Works and Transport Minister, Mr Sinanan, to bring all-round improvements to our communities. For example conditions of both major roads and minor roads should be tackled together.

So too are traffic and rural public offices – from washrooms and markets to parking and sanitation. Hosein showed he has the guts. Sinanan shows hopes of being “an action man.” These two have ground-level duties for places where common folk has been suffering for too long – and too silently.

What about the zip-codes promised for every district? What about missing street signs? Where are the promised government-printed licence plates? How you expect to have effective community policing when the police may not know where to go? Where is the national waste disposal policy? This electorate has already suffered from many broken promises. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, at a public meeting three weeks ago, complained that “garbage collection was one of the most corrupt expenditures of the state.” Two Municipal Corporation chairmen, Aiknath Singh (Princes Town) and Premchand Sookoo (Penal/Debe) denied this. So did San Fernando Deputy Mayor Junia Regrello.

This matter should not end here.

Too much rubbish all about – some nasty citizens, yes, but where are the garbage bins along the streets, along the beaches, etc? That’s why, reform plans (almost ten so far) by former Rural Development and Local Government Minister, Franklin Khan, to allow each corporation to “collect its own taxes” is welcome in part. The new minister and his government should regularly publish results from rigid accountability and performance audits – as a voting guide for next time. Too many ugly, corrupt things remain covered in this country.

Will things get better after next week’s local government elections? The country hopes so. (Professor D e o s a r a n was chairman of the JSC to oversee M u n i c i p a l Corporations and Service C o m m i s - sions.)