SANGRE GRANDE TO SHARE IN $100 M LOCAL GOVT GOODIES

RESIDENTS of the Sangre Grande community are to get improved roads in upcoming weeks in the run-up to the triennial local government election. 

The enhanced infrastructure would come courtesy of a new State enterprise, under Faris Al Rawi’s Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. 

The Secondary Road and Rehabilitation Company has already been assigned $100 million although it has not yet been formally registered and established. 

A former senior operative of Al Rawi’s San Fernando West general election campaign is set to chair the company, Sunshine Today understands. 

This newspaper had previously reported that the $100 million is part of the government’s slush fund for works in strategically important districts ahead of the polls. 

The LG election must be held on or before December 2. 

The improved roads are a crucial part of a package of goodies earmarked by the PNM Government as it seeks to regain control of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation. 

The Rowley administration lost the corporation in the 2019 election, winning three seats to the UNC’s five. 

The defeat was seen as a personal blow to Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan, who has deep family roots and business in Sangre Grande and who upgraded the infrastructure ahead of the polls. 

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley was furious at the loss. 

The PNM won the Toco-Sangre Grande electoral constituency in the 2020 general election, with candidate Roger Monroe. 

Senior PNM strategists are focusing on regaining the corporation as one means of consolidating the Toco-Sangre Grande constituency for the 2025 general election. 

The ruling party is seeking to improve its standing in traditional UNC communities of Guaico and Valencia, while cementing its footing along the northeast coastal districts. 

There have been periodic protests at some communities, including Toco and Matelot, with residents accusing the authorities of neglecting roads and bridges. 

Residents of Matelot – the most distant village – have demonstrated for repairs to Marcel and other bridges, roads, and an improved transportation service. 

Wooden planks along the Marcel Bridge have been rotting and collapsing. 

The planned infrastructure works would provide pre-election jobs to unemployed residents of the districts. 

The regional corporation covers a land mass of 358 square miles, and chairman Anil Juteram has complained of late and limited releases of funds from the Ministry of Finance. 

Juteram said the corporation is having difficulty in maintaining and repairing equipment and vehicles, and, as a result, is hard-pressed to upkeep recreation grounds, deliver truck-borne water and provide other services. 

The government has not officially explained the planned use of the $100 million allocated to the special purposes company. 

The funding was revealed during the mid-year budget revision in Parliament in May, in which $3.08 billion was tagged onto the fiscal package. 

Asked n Parliament about the new company, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said: “It is a matter for the Prime Minister”.  

Infrastructure improvements are also financed by the Public Sector Investment Programme, and the Ministry of Works’ Programme for Upgrading Road Efficiency (PURE). 

There are almost 100,000 residents in the communities served by the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation.