Poor maintenance a big problem

THE EDITOR: Several letters and articles in the newspapers recently have raised the issue of maintenance of government buildings. I would like to add my comments in the hope that if enough people write about this something may happen. This issue is certainly not new as the lack of maintenance of all public buildings, parks, roads, pavements, electricity and telephone poles etc has been a problem for many years and through many administrations. Not only is there a lack of proper maintenance of state property but also in may buildings that the state leases from private owners.

If we are to bring this nation up to developed country status this is one of the most important matters that must be dealt with. If we look like a second rate country, we probably are one. Indeed it is not only government properties that need upgrading and regular maintenance but also the private sector should be required by law to improve and maintain their properties. The number of unsightly air conditioning units sticking out of buildings all over the country is a case in point. There should be legislation forbidding property owners from putting AC units outside of the facade of a commercial building. Property owners should be required by law to repaint the exterior of their buildings at regular intervals. Government should lead the way by its example.

TTEC, TSTT and the Cable company should be made to clean up the mess of unsightly overhead cables and crooked poles. All new connections should be underground to the greatest extent possible. Building contractors should be prevented from piling gravel and sand and mixing concrete on our pavements and roads. Why is this allowed to continue? Let’s tidy up the country as a whole and it must start with Government.

CECIL QUESNEL
Port-of-Spain