SLACK FLOOD POLITICS FROM MP TIGHT PANTS

SAN Fernando West Member of Parliament Faris Al Rawi was either engaged in cheap politics or was not aware of the facts when he recently cast blame after a major flood.

Al Rawi held the United National Congress accountable for the high waters in certain parts of the southern city, including the unprecedented flooding of Naparima Bowl.

He said legal action inspired by the UNC against a planned Housing Development Corporation (HDC) project at Todd Street led to squatting in low-lying areas.

Al Rawi, dubbed MP Tight Pants by his critics, may be ignorant of a longstanding appeal for official action at Les Efforts East, a low-lying San Fernando district.

As far back at April 2012, residents petitioned the authorities seeking “urgent intervention” to end flooding, which affects about 150 households and 30 businesses.

They said that two ravines that originate in the foothills of San Fernando Hill lead to “volumes of water in our neighbourhood” and there have been no improvements to the waterways in recent years.

They identified the water courses, both of which empty into Cipero River.

The residents stated that the deteriorated state of the waterway at Turton Street is “near collapse, as evidenced by the movement and slippage of the sidewalks.

“Any further upheaval to this part of the ravine will spell untold misery, disruption and dislocation to the many residents of this community,” they stressed.

They appealed for action to remedy the problem before the next rainy season “and the accompanying torrential rainfall.”

Residents say the infrastructure in the flood-prone districts has worsened over the years.

The recent flood took place in some of the areas identified in the petition.

Several residents and business owners suffered major damage.

Al Rawi turned up the next day, with the media and his personal photographer, throwing blame on the political opposition and ignoring the continuing issues in his constituency.

His politicisation of the issue left several flood victims distraught.

They said the Member of Parliament was compounding the problem by sidetracking the cause of the flood.

“This is not a political issue,” a resident of Blanche-Fraser Street said, adding: “People are suffering and we want results, not finger-pointing.”

Representatives of the UNC said that, in addition to Al Rawi being wrong on the pertinent facts, he did not assist flood victims.

Activists of the opposition party said they responded urgently to the disaster with food and other essentials.

The stand-off comes virtually on the eve of what is expected to be a close contest for control of San Fernando City Corporation in the August 14 Local Government election.

Critics feel Mr. Tight Pants is playing slack flood politics.