PanamaTimes

Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Frustrated residents stage fiery protest in T&T's Barrackpore

Frustrated residents stage fiery protest in T&T's Barrackpore

Fiery protests paralysed school and business activity in Barrackpore as residents blocked five main access routes into the area with burning debris.
Tyres, barrels and wooden crates were heaped on roads and set ablaze from as early as 5 a.m. Protesters stood with placards and called for the resolution of multiple issues they say are in dire need of redress while the Fire Service and the police attempted to restore order.

Protesters told reporters that action will continue in the weeks ahead if the area’s poor roads, unreliable water supply and farming issues do not get a response from relevant authorities.

Apart from growing potholes and uneven roads, they said several areas have been deprived of pipe-borne water for months.

They said some farmers were owed funds from the Ministry of Agriculture and agricultural roads needed repairs.

They called on the Ministers of Works and Transport, Agriculture and Public Utilities to visit and address their concerns.

“The Government has done nothing to repair this road. Six years in a year Kanhai Road has had issues with the water supply (and) people have to live down here. If they come to put out a fire, they have nothing to connect it to. All you’re hearing is taxes, taxes, taxes and we are getting nothing in return. A year-and-a-half people down here have not been working. People are suffering, and we are fed up. In Barrackpore people have reached their breaking point,” said one resident.

He added: “I think the people want to see the Minister of Works and Transport down here so we can get these issues addressed. The road is deplorable, and the car is rocking like a road when you go in it. It is too bad for us to repair on our own. So much money being spent annually and what is happening here? The only time you see the Prime Minister down here is to turn the pot during election, you are not seeing none of them after.”

Another resident, who did not want to be identified by name, said, “What we want is what is due to us, the people should come and see the road in Barrackpore and all over the countryside. The people are calling on the Prime Minister to pay money to the people they have outstanding money for and to pave the roads. Do something better, man.”

MP for the area Michelle Benjamin, who was present at the protest, said she was on her way out of the area when she was alerted to the protests and joined in solidarity.

Among the blocked-off areas were Kanhai Junction, Cunjal and Cumuto Road with reports of protests in Indian Walk and Hindustan, she said.

“I was on my way to Port of Spain when I got a call that my constituents were protesting on the roads, farming issues, access roads and produce. This morning I came to stand with them and, believe me, we are calling to the Minister of Works to hear the concerns and address the people of Moruga/Tableland.

“This morning is concerning water, the state of the road. Right now people are losing finance because they have to pay for repairs on a weekly basis. We are asking for the Minister of Works to visit the area and answer the roads and the Minister of Agriculture to address the issues of farmers. This is their choice and I will stand with my citizens as this is a genuine complaint,” said Benjamin.
Newsletter

Related Articles

PanamaTimes
0:00
0:00
Close
Apple warns against drying iPhones with rice
In a recent High Court hearing, the U.S. argued that Julian Assange endangered lives by releasing classified information.
Global Law Enforcement Dismantles Lockbit Ransomware Operation
Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has died at the Arctic prison colony
The President of Argentina Javier Mile does not fly private, he flies commercial, with the citizens he represents. And they LOVE him for it.
Bitcoin Reaches $50,000 for First Time in Over Two Years
Belo Horizonte: Brazil's Rising Carnival Hotspot for 2024
In El Salvador, the 'Trump of Latin America' stuns the world with a speech slamming woke policing after winning a landslide election
Tucker’s interview with Putin is over 50M views on X within the first 5 hours.
Finnish Airline, Finnair, is voluntarily weighing passengers to better estimate flight cargo weight
President Nayib Bukele has proudly announced El Salvador's remarkable achievement of becoming the safest nation in the Western Hemisphere.
Former Chilean President Sebastian Piñera Dies in Helicopter Crash
This farmer seems to understand science a bit more than the event organizer, Klaus Schwab.
Facebook turns 20: From Mark Zuckerberg's dormitory to a $1trn company
The Coolest Dictator in the World" on the Path to Victory in El Salvador
Macron, France and fake news
Indian-Origin Man 'King' Arrested For Smuggling $16 Million Drugs Into US
Can someone teach Americans that not every person with slanted eyes is Chinese?
Europe's Farmers Feeding the People, Protesting Against Politicians Who Do Nothing for Their Country and Serve Only Themselves at Taxpayers' Expense
Paris Restaurant That Inspired 'Ratatouille' Loses $1.6 Million Worth Of Wine
Brazilian Police Investigate Bolsonaro's Son for Alleged Illegal Spying
Police in Brazil Raid Residence of Bolsonaro Associate Over Allegations of Illegal Spying
Border Dispute Escalates as Texas Governor Vows Increased Razor Wire
OpenAI Enhances ChatGPT-4 Model, Potentially Addressing AI "Laziness" Issue
The NSA finally acknowledges spying on Americans by acquiring sensitive data
Report Reveals Toxic Telegram Group Generating X-Rated AI-Generated Fake Images of Taylor Swift
US Border Patrol States 'No Plans' to Remove Razor Wire Installed in Texas
Bitcoin Experiences Approximately 20% Decline in Value
Klaus Schwab recently appointed himself as the Earth's "trustee of the future."
DeSantis Drops Out, Endorses Trump.
Nikki Haley said former President Trump is "just not at the same level" of mental fitness as he was while president in 2016.
Residents of a southern Mexican town set the government palace on fire in response to the police killing of a young man
Samsung Launches AI-Driven Galaxy S24, Ushering in New Smartphone Era
Judge Questions SEC's Regulatory Overreach in Coinbase Lawsuit
The Ecuador prosecutor who was investigating the television studio attack, has been assassinated.
Is artificial intelligence the solution to cyber security threats?
Vivek Ramaswamy suspends his US election campaign and endorses Trump.
Viral Satire: A Staged Satirical Clip Mistaken as Real Footage from the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos
The AI Revolution in the Workforce: CEOs at Davos Predict Major Job Cuts in 2024
Ecuador Reports 178 Hostages in Prison Gang Standoff
The Startling Cuban Espionage Case That Has Rattled the US Government
Two Armed Men in Ecuador, Dressed as Batman and The Joker Storm the Streets.
Armed Gang Raids Ecuadorian TV Station Following State of Emergency Declaration
Anti-Democratic Canada: Journalist Arrested for Questioning Canadian Finance Minister on Support of Terrorist Group
Ecuador's 'Most-Wanted' Criminal Vanishes from Prison
Mexican Cartel Supplied Wi-Fi to Locals Under Threat of Fatal Consequences for Non-Compliance
Border Surge Leads to Over 11,000 Migrants Waiting in Northern Mexico
Outsider Candidates Triumph in Latin American Elections
As Argentina Goes to the Polls, Will the Proposal to Replace the Peso with the Dollar Secure Votes?
Fatal Shark Attack Claims Life of Boston Woman Paddleboarding Near Bahamas Resort, According to Police
×