Painting a picture of an absent and uncaring MP, Beetham residents say they are happy Fitzgerald Hinds is not seeking re-election for the Laventille West constituency.

Newsday visited the area on November 29, less than 24 hours after the Prime Minister confirmed Hinds intended to step down from electoral politics.

Speaking at a post-cabinet media briefing on November 28, Rowley said, “I think it’s confirmed that he will not be continuing to offer himself as a candidate in his constituency.”

Rowley said he was saddened but not entirely surprised.

“I’m a little disappointed, but because he has been with us for a long time. He has been a very loyal, hard-working MP.

“There is sadness in parting, but I am sure Hinds will be around with the party, if not in the government.”

Beetham residents, however, contradicted Rowley’s characterisation of Hinds.

[caption id="attachment_860243" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Part of the mural painted on a wall in Beetham Gardens, along the Priority Bus Route.[/caption]

They said they were fed up with Hinds and described him as “a waste of time” and “just another politician."

“He does hardly come here and when he come is as whole set of talk. Just talk and no action. He ent doing nothing for we.”

Another resident said Hinds not standing for re-election is a good thing.

Asked to explain why, the man said, “It's a good thing because he doing s---. He don’t do nothing for nobody. We have all kind of sewer problems. The river in the community backing up and as soon as rain fall, the place flooding. He can’t even fix that. You mean to tell me you can’t even get a river cleaned?”

Two women who live near to the river pointed to a two-foot-wide sinkhole in the road as the older woman said, “That is how much he care about this community.”

The younger one added, “The community always flooding when it rains. They need to fix it but nobody don't want to do it because it's, ‘Just dem Beetham people,’ who are affected and we don’t matter. But if we protest, they say we behaving bad.

The older one said she has considered building something to prevent the water from coming into the house but said she has neither the energy nor resources to do it.

“Our house does flood every time it rain because we right next to the river and the drains does overflow. Imagine that stink water coming into your house and I must vote for him again. Why? So that I could get more stink water in my house?”

[caption id="attachment_934846" align="alignnone" width="1024"] FLASHBACK: Laventille West MP Fitzgerald Hinds, left, beats a hasty retreat in August 2018 after being jeered and having floodwater splashed on him by angry residents. FILE PHOTO[/caption]

A woman, walking home with her son, said Hinds, like most politicians, is disconnected from his constituents.

“Hinds don’t do anything for we so it don't matter. I need help fixing my place, plus all this stink water people have to inhale. (Politicians) always promise help before elections but after it's just a runaround. It’s the same