THE Government is not doing enough to help people's lives in the aspects of education, livelihoods and the shaping of communities, heard a UNC pre-budget consultation at the SWWTU Hall, Port of Spain, on Wednesday night.
About 60 people attended from areas covered by the corporations for Diego Martin, Port of Spain, and San Juan/ Laventille. The event was introduced by brief speeches by Senators Wade Mark, Damian Lyder and Jearlean John and MPs David Lee and Saddam Hosein.
John John resident Gail Samuel wanted more action to fix schools and supply laptops to students.
"Three schools in our area, the children have to wake up early to get to some warehouse."
She said this temporary housing of students has put a big strain on parents, many of whom don't have jobs or have low-paying jobs. "We are fighting for $19 an hour since 2015," she lamented of TT's minimum wage.
Samuel alleged that high duties on imports of false fingernails and hair weave had hurt many small-scale beauticians.
"The trade for the poor man is not for us anymore."
[caption id="attachment_1035370" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Gail Samuel gives her views during the UNC's budget consultation at SWWTU Hall, Port of Spain, on Wednesday. - Photo by Ayanna Kinsale[/caption]
Wendy Bravo of Bagatelle Road, Diego Martin claimed, "It's not like long time when the PNM used to help people.
"They have no activities for the youth of Bagatelle."
She was upset that locals had been displaced from their traditional playing fields by a sports complex for which they now had to find money to pay to enter.
"We want sports and educational programmes, to let the youth put away their anger and frustration."
She said residents only got "a little CEPEP work" at election time.
"For the covid (pandemic) many of us were fired. We had no food.
"Inshan had to leave Chaguanas and bring us food. Where was Rowley when we had no food and no work?"
The Prime Minister is the Diego Martin West MP covering Bagatelle and Inshan Ishmael is a businessman and philanthropist.
"When we can't get a work we have to come out gunmen and prostitutes," she lamented.
One speaker claimed the Government had turned a blind eye to high food prices but should instead follow Guyana in promoting initiatives like shrimp farming.
Carenage resident Darren Le Fleurs complained of the state of his area, also in the PM's constituency.
[caption id="attachment_1035373" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Darron La Fleur gives his views during the UNC's budget consultation at SWWTU Hall, Port of Spain, on Wednesday. - Photo by Ayanna Kinsale[/caption]
"Carenage used to have St Peter's Day. Now it has regressed to a bar lime."
He complained that while Victoria Keyes residents were getting a flyover, longtime residents of Cocorite had to make a long walk to reach a walkover to cross the busy road.
"That walkover is too far for Granny to walk."
Le Fleurs said too many spots in Carenage were garbage dumps, as he alleged official neglect.
He accused Dr Rowley of failing to
