By INVERA ARJOON Friday, March 12 2010

In contrast to a few weeks ago when she was under fire from Arima residents, Local Government Minister Hazel Manning had to play peacemaker to calm tensions during a public meeting at Miracle Ministries High School, Couva on Wednesday night.

Manning had to referee a war of words between members of the audience and chairman of the chairman of the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation (CCTRC) Ranjit Ramnarine.

Unlike in Arima, where Manning was strongly criticised for saying the oldest borough was only bush 50 years ago, Central residents praised her ministry’s plans for their communities but lashed out at the corporation. They said the UNC-controlled corporation has done little to improve their living conditions.

Arena resident Abdul Aleem addressing Manning said, “Madam Minister I applaud your hard work and your plans for the area but who are you going to have implement it. Certainly not this corporation. How can you put them in charge of such a complicated plan when the residents cry blood to them and the never assisted us.”

Beverly Lisborne Riley told Manning she was completely at her mercy as she explained how she lobbied for five years to get a drain built.

“When I exhausted all other avenues, I wrote a letter every week for seven months and dropped it at the CCTRC and when they finally dropped material I became so excited that I offered my kitchen to store the cement only to have them come and take it back. It is unfair Madam Minister.”

As the complaints and bashing intensified, the line of residents waiting to have their say became longer. When Ramnarine attempted to respond there were strong objections and Manning had to plead with the audience to “please do not become personal” and said corporation workers had to do their part to deliver services to residents.

“He (Ramanarine) cannot be up and down the road everyday to ensure they do the work as it should so on behalf of him and the councillors I appeal to the employees to do what they have to,” Manning said. When Ramnarine finally got his chance to speak he defended the performance of his corporation, which he said was one of the best in the country.

“We have the best disaster preparedness unit. We have a house numbering system to get to you efficiently and you call us useless. Some of the roads and drains mentioned falls under the purview of the Ministry of Works but CTTRC must take all the blows for the whenever other agencies cause problems. Is that fair?”

He said CTTRC does its best to address all of the problems of the area but its restricted by limited financial and manpower resources.