Hazel brings promises to P/Town

The constituency is currently held by UNC MP Subhas Panday, while the Opposition party also controls the Regional Corporation. Mrs Manning gave these promises as she addressed a commemoration ceremony to mark the installation of the 25,000th street light at Yolande Pompey Recreation ground in Princes Town on Thursday.

She said all major roads would also be upgraded by the Ministry of Works and Transport while surrounding villages could expect similar improvements which will be done in the town’s main areas.

“We know water is a problem and we are working with Minister (Pennelope) Beckles to improve the water supply in the area. This is just the start of the upgrade of the villages in the area. We have only just begun,” she said.

Well into “electioneering mode”, Mrs Manning who assumed the role of constituency coordinator in 2003, said walkabouts throughout the region revealed a number of concerns by residents including quality health care and infrastructural development.

“We produced a Princes Town development plan and this plan identifies the need of the Princes Town area, needs that have been in existence for a long period of time. Needs that have not been met, even after years of petitioning of relief,” she said.

Manning identified the constituency’s needs as — improvements of the standard of living, lower unemployment rate, 24-hour quality heath care and improvements in the agricultural sector.

“You also asked for the construction, upgrade and repair of roads, pavements, drainage, landslips, bridges, throughout the region, electricity, telecommunications, transportation, you asked for housing, improved sporting facilities, improved utilities, namely water, and you asked for the expanding and industrialisation of the agriculture sector,” she said.

Manning added: “You are saying the people of Princes Town that you wanted representation of a kind to improve your standard of living, improve your quality of life, and that the provision of these services must be done in a fair and just and equitable manner.”

She said St Julien Village and Piparo would soon benefit from improvements to the water and electricity supply.

Manning also addressed a petition circulated by a number of residents which called on the Government to honour its commitment to construct a sporting facility, inclusive of swimming pool, lawn tennis court, basketball court, international size football field and track and field facilities, at the grounds.

She said the matter had been forwarded to the Sports Company of T&T and work on the site would begin later during the year.

Also addressing the ceremony was Public Utilities Minister, Pennelope Beckles, who said the national street lighting programme was well on schedule and some 50 lamps had been installed on the periphery of the Yolande Pompey Grounds.

Some 83,000 street lights are expected to be installed throughgout the nation within a three-year period.

Attending the ceremony were former Princes Town MPs Jennifer Johnson (NAR) and Amoy Mohammed (PNM) as well as TTEC General Manager Indarjit Singh. However, noticeably absent was incumbent MP Subhas Panday.