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“[…] Two months ago, the force and frequency of the water caused the road to completely collapse just above his house.
“[…] Recently, residents said an ambulance could not get to an elderly resident who eventually died. The situation is completely unacceptable…”
Photographer Maria Nunes chronicles, via video, the deplorable condition of Africa Road, John John—due to the routine overflow of WASA’s tanks in Picton—and the impact on the community:
This morning I went to visit my good friend, Andy ‘Black Indian’ Patrick, in Africa Road, John John after he called me to say the community there is living through being flooded out by WASA twice a week. Some of it gets into the downstairs of his house.
Two months ago, the force and frequency of the water caused the road to completely collapse just above his house. No vehicles can pass to go higher up than where he lives.
Recently, residents said an ambulance could not get to an elderly resident who eventually died. The situation is completely unacceptable.
Residents are tired of complaining to the authorities and also posting about it on Facebook. The Member of Parliament for the area is Keith Scotland. It is truly unconscionable and shocking what the residents of Africa Road are being subjected to, at least twice a week.
Look at the video to see for yourself and please share to anyone with the power to do something about it.
Response from Keith Scotland, Port of Spain South MP:
“On or about the 21st of October, I left in the middle of the Budget debate, having been alerted to the issue. I identified, along with WASA, the root cause of the gushing water at the Spree Simon tank and we got WASA to start to do the remedial work—having spoken to the Minister of Public Utilities.
“The resident in your photograph, Roland Gilbert, will confirm as recently as Sunday afternoon I was up in Africa Road making sure the work can be restarted. The problem is it makes no sense fixing the roads until the water is stopped completely.
“I am aware of the problem, I am actively on top of it and, within my powers, I am trying to have it rectified. Africa cannot be forgotten.”
(via Keith Scotland MP)
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