BY HERMAN ROOP DASS Monday, September 6 2010

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Speaking to members of the Mangaroo family are, from left, Couva South MP Rudy Indarsingh, Minister of the People and Social Development Dr Glenn Ram...

A POVERTY STRICKen family living in a dilapidated shack at Basta Hall Village, Couva, have been promised a new house within one month by officials of the People’s Partnership Government.

The family was recently visited by Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh, Minister of the People and Social Development and Rudy Indarsingh, Minister in the Ministry of Works and Transport.

Radesh Mangaroo and members of her family, Angela, Sanjay, Naresh, and Kumar, shed tears of joy when they were told they would soon have a proper home. Their shack has no flooring and they are forced to sleep on a muddy floor as a result of heavy rains over the last few months.

Their already desperate situation was made worse when head of the family, Prakash Mangaroo, left home about one month ago.

Dr Ramadharsingh said it would cost approximately $50,000 to build a proper home for the Mangaroo family He said he was confident that many organisations would willingly help “ this family to continue their life despite their disadvantageous location”. The minister also promised that the family will be given counselling and other support to “help them to prepare for the many challenges that will face them”.

The family received some food items during the visit by the ministers and a representative of the Chaguanas Rotary Club, Bill Ramrattan promised to help in furnishing their new home.