Martinez to put cameras on wreckers

Martinez spoke to the media after the launch of the Deed of Covenant Initiative of the St Joseph’s Convent Port-of-Spain Past Pupils’ Association at the Abercrombie Tea Shop, Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain.

He said while the wreckers were working to eliminate the congestion, there were some odd situations where, in their enthusiasm, they picked up vehicles indiscriminately.

“I am trying to put things in place to see that it is minimised. If I add cameras to the wreckers and someone feels that they were wrecked indiscriminately, they can come to the police station and lodge a report.

When we look back on the footage, and if it is they are correct, we will reimburse them. I think it will be the proper thing to do,” he said.

Martinez said during the Carnival season the corporation would be meeting with bandleaders to look at the assigned routes to ensure there is no indiscriminate parking.

“We have a lot of bands that are going to be passing through the city.

I have already ensured the NCC (National Carnival Commission) that we will wreck any vehicles along the route to allow the bands to pass very easily.

“However, the bands must tell us the routes they are taking and, in turn, we will make sure that parking is not done along those routes. Citizens will be able to park on the side streets.

In some instances we may allow double parking depending on the amount of parking that is available.” He said he hopes every citizen would be happy and enjoy the Carnival season.

Martinez also said a task force has been set up to address the issue of street dwellers.

“These (homeless) people are vulnerable...

but we have to implement rules and make sure they are taken off the streets. We have to take care of all of them.

Yesterday, I met with the Social Development Ministry, Ministry of National Security, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Health. We have invited the business community to guide us, because they are the ones who are affected by the street dwellers. We want to be able to bring people back into the city, and be comfortable.” He said once all the stakeholders were involved, they could come up with an appropriate solution for the problem.

Martinez said if they could rehabilitate one person back into society, citizens would feel they have started to make some inroads into the real growth and development of the nation’s human capital.