COP’s Ramadhar calls for national clean-up

Published: 20 Aug 2009
Dixie Ann Dickson

The Congress of the People (COP) is appealing to citizens to join in a National Clean Up Campaign to help address the flooding issues. The party’s deputy political leader Prakash Ramadhar made the call yesterday during a media conference at the Normandie Hotel in Cascade.

Ramadhar said the party was tired of Government making the same excuses every year regarding flooding issues. He said the weather patterns had been changing and will continue to change. He said the Government needed to put proper measures in place. The party’s education officer Lincoln Douglas said the country was in a leadership crisis as the Government was not addressing the root of the problem.

However, he called on the Government to make the necessary adjustments by building new drainage and sewer systems. Ramadhar said the Congress of the People was committed to assist with alleviating the problem. He said the COP had written to all regional bodies and corporations in T&T to use their resources to launch a national clean up campaign over the next three months. He said this initiative should involve all citizens and the project should start as early as September. Ramadhar said the COP was willing to partner with the various corporations. More The Ministry of Social Development, in a release yesterday, said it has been actively engaged in assisting areas and homes affected by recent flooding. It said the Ministry’s Disaster Units had rendered assistance in various areas such as Tunapuna, Chaguanas, Rio Claro and Princes Town, Claxton Bay, Penal and Marabella. Hampers and grocery items were also distributed to households in the Couva/Tabaquite region, Rio Claro, San Fernando Penal and Debe, the release said. The ministry assured that in the event of any natural disaster, the Disaster Response team would respond to the impacted areas to assist and conduct assessments. The release said the team would continue its relief efforts throughout the rainy season in tandem with the regional corporations. The Clean Up Campaign includes: • Removal of garbage such as large appliances which would eliminate unwanted water storage • Removal of derelict vehicles parked on the roadsides • Use of resources like large trucks and backhoes to clear clogged drains • Engage in a community by community programme to clean up items people no longer needed in their homes. Source: http://guardian.co.tt/news/general/2009/08/20/cop-s-ramadhar-calls-national-clean