‘South is different. We in this constituency, in this country, believe in equality. But (Prime Minister Dr) Keith Rowley believes in inequality. They believe in geographic discrimination.’- Oropouche West MP
By Chanatlé Fletcher
THERE are only 12 Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) gangs in the Oropouche West constituency of 56 square kilometres.
This according to Oropouche West MP Davendranath Tancoo at the TT Speaks community meeting held at Gopie Trace in Penal, on Thursday night.
Tancoo said, “South is different. We in this constituency, in this country, believe in equality. But (Prime Minister Dr) Keith Rowley believes in inequality. They believe in geographic discrimination.”
He said, “Port of Spain South is 7.44 sq km and that area is paved with street lights everywhere, they have drains and everything with 30 CEPEP gangs.
“Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West, 18.5 sq km which is a developed area has 27 CEPEP gangs, San Fernando East,13 sq km with 30 CEPEP gangs and San Fernando West with 10.3 sq km with 46 CEPEP gangs, Diego Martin Central 13 sq km with 24 CEPEP and Laventille West with 30 CEPEP gangs.”
He described those areas as relatively developed, where the road infrastructure was there with less grass and bush when compared to the Oropouche West constituency.
Tanco said, “It is not just the constituency of Oropouche West, it’s the whole of South they’re victimising.”
Siparia, one of the biggest areas in South, covered 157 sq km and only had 12 CEPEP gangs.
Tancoo said, “This is the lowest level of bad mind discrimination that you could find anywhere, pure hate but they’re acting normal.”
He said the Government has money.
Tancoo said, “They spent $320 billion but we will just not see it because they are deliberately ensuring that you don’t get.
“That’s why we can’t get water here. You’ll get water once for every nine or ten days in the 21st Century under the PNM.”
He also made reference to a newspaper article of September 21, 2021, where the Minister of Works and Transport, Rohan Sinanan indicated that new pumps had arrived and would have been installed at the Tulsa Trace flood gates.
Yet, Tancoo said this was a “frankoment lie” as no pumps were delivered and further enquired the whereabouts of the pumps and who received the payments for it.
He made the comparison to Mosquito Creek. “It’s just like the Creek, it’s our taxpayers’ money going to pay there.”
