Caption: Vindra Mangroo at her flooded home along the banks of the Godineau River on Thursday. AZP News/Sue-Ann Wayow
By Sue-Ann Wayow
FOR two decades, a mother of seven lived on the banks of the Godineau River in Debe.
She remains hopeful though, that this time around, she may be able to get a new home from the United National Congress (UNC)-led government.
Vindra Mangroo is one of several persons who have set up modest homes, many of them wooden structures, along the banks of the river. Simply because they “have nowhere else to go,” the residents say.
AZP News visited the area on Thursday amidst rising floodwaters that crept up under their homes, destroying planted crops, outdoor toilets and other items.
While the residents, some of whom were young children, were safe, they lamented their conditions, hoping that their pleas would be heard and assistance given.
Mangroo and other residents live at Molly St, Suchit Trace Branch Rd.
Five out of Mangroo’s children – ages 22, 18, 19, 17, 11 and 10- still live with her.
@azpnews.com Resident speaks about her flooding plight in Debe on Thursday evening. She lives on the banks of the Godineu River. Video: Sue-Ann Wayow @khadijahameenbusiness @mowi.gov.tt #flooding #debe #gordineuriver #heavyrain #floodmitigation
Mangroo, a part-time doubles wrapper, is unable to work following surgery to remove kidney stones.
Her husband, who works with the Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP), also has health challenges and has been unable to work for a while.
She told AZP News she was most disappointed with the flood because it destroyed the crops such as hot peppers, tomatoes and celery, she had planted.
“A school teacher helped us to plant these crops to gain a little extra money and now, they all gone,” Mangroo said.
She said assistance has been received in the past in the form of food hampers but what was really needed was proper housing even though applications were made in the past.
When asked if apart from Housing Development Corporation (HDC), if housing was sought elsewhere, Mangroo said, “We don’t know anywhere else but we are trying our best to see if we could get any assistance in any way that we could ever get because this is not good to stay in, under water so long.”
The residents have had dirty floodwaters under in their homes since Wednesday around 4 pm.
Mangroo said, “If we could get a place to go and make it our own than living in this water it will be good.”
Two years ago, residents faced a similar flooding situation.
Another resident has been living in the area for more than ten years. He was displaced when persons were being relocated for the extension of the Solomon Hochoy Highway to Point Fortin, part of which passes through Debe.
Vikash Bunsee, father of two children ages 13 and six, said not everybody had the opportunity to be relocated to better areas.
He said flooding would have been worse but in 2023, a private contractor assisted residents by raising the river banks.
The Penal/Debe Regional Corporation have assisted to some extent which prevented more widespread flooding nearer to the main road, he said.
He said he applied for an HDC house back in 2015 and now that government has changed, Bunsee said he will make another attempt to get a home.
Ministers intervening
AZP News brought the issue to Housing Minister Dr David Lee and Social Development Minister Vandana Mohit.
Lee informed AZP News that he will have the ministry’s permanent secretary deal with the matter as well as Minister in the Ministry of Housing Phillip Alexander.
The two will be working together to determine what relief can be sought for the residents, Lee said.
Alexander also spoke with AZP News saying he was aware of the community and he will provide an update soon.
