Article A7 · Book 1 · Scrapbook page p.7
MP: No need for Cedros mas' protest
REPRESENTATIVE Roy Richardson yesterday poured cold water on the plan by hundreds of Cedros residents to bring a band into Port-of-Spain on Carnival Monday portraying various ways in which they claim the district has been neglected. Mr. Richardson, as the member for Point Fortin, is their representative in Parliament.
"It would appear to me that there are political overtones in the whole undertaking," he said, without wanting to elaborate on this.
"I am not opposed to the people playing mas'. By all means play mas'. But if this is intended as a protest it is completely unnecessary as I have taken up their complaints vigorously at all levels and I have been getting results," he said. (See Editorial on Page 8. Concluding article on Page 6).
Two weeks ago the news broke that the Cedros residents plan to come into Port-of-Spain playing the first protest mas' ever in the history of Carnival — "The Neglected Cedros."
They have complained about several problems which have been the highlight this week in a series of articles in the "Guardian."
Yesterday, Mr. Richardson dealt with the problems one by one and said that Cedros, far from being neglected in any way, is actively engaging the attention of Government.
Mr. Richardson gave the following explanations:
* The residents have complained about the closing down of the Cedros District Hospital two years ago, causing them to rely on the Point Fortin hospital 18 miles away.
Main difficulty
Mr. Richardson recognised this as a problem and said that main difficulty here arises out of the shortage of doctors which the country as a whole faces. He said that the hospital had been closed down following recommendations by experts which called for a reorganisation of the health services of the country.
In this context it was intended to develop Point Fortin as a pilot project for the country, with adequate ambulance services to take care of the outlying areas of the country. But even the Point Fortin Hospital has been struggling with staff problems.
"In view of the complaints I have had, I have already approached the Minister of Health, to get a re-assessment of the position of Cedros, vis a vis the health services in the area," Mr. Richardson said.
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* The residents are also complaining about the bad condition of roads. Mr. Richardson said that two years ago the roads were worse than they are now. "We have done a great deal to improve the condition of the roads and a lot more will be done in the future," he said.
* Parents say the schools in the district are almost dilapidated and lack basic amenities. Mr. Richardson said that a new Government school for Icacos has been included in the Five-Year Development Plan. "I intend to press for construction on this to be started sometime this year.
* Farmers in the district have been trying to get land for farming from Government for several years without success. Mr. Richardson said that he himself had been paying close attention to this question. "I have discussed with the Ministry of Agriculture the possibility of releasing 300 acres of Crown lands for peasant farming," he said. The land is located in the
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Coromandel area a few miles from Bonasse. He was not aware of the claims that were being made by residents in respect of 340-acre Green Hill Estate.
Fishermen in the area claimed that they have had to put up with years of neglect since Government has provided no facilities.
Mr. Richardson said that Government will shortly provide a shed for the Cedros fishermen, as well as facilities for them to pull up their boats. The problems with Venezuela had been engaging Government's attention for some time. He spoke about the fishing complex which is being built by Shell at Point Fortin and said: "With the facilities that would be provided here, the future certainly looks bright for fishermen in the entire area."
Unemployment is as serious a problem in Cedros as it is anywhere else in the country. Mr. Richardson said he had spoken to the Minister of State responsible for Finance about the closure of the fibre plant at Cedros which has caused 40 persons to be unemployed. He said the Ministry is looking into the situation to see what can be done about it.
As regards future prospects for employment in the area, he felt that the fishing complex at Point Fortin would make a big difference to the entire area. Outside of the direct employment which would be created, Mr. Richardson felt that a number of jobs would be generated in the ancillary operations like boat-building and the servicing of marine engines.
As evidence that the area is not neglected, Mr. Richardson pointed out that recently Government had built the Columbus Beach Road, and provided lights and water for Icacos. He said that provision has also been made for facilities to improve the Granville beach area and for a number of agricultural access roads to be built this year.
He himself meets his constituents every Tuesday afternoon and visits Bonasse, Fullerton and Icacos at least once a month. "The problems facing Cedros have always been discussed and taken up at the highest levels and right now action is being taken on several of these. So the need for any kind of protest mas' is really unnecessary," he said.