Ramnath – the MP who is ‘never seen’Wednesday, August 5 2009
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Parbatie Nandalal ...
Couva South constituents say they are waiting with “open arms” to welcome their “surrogate father” Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj to their constituency.
Speaking to Newsday yesterday, a number of residents of the Couva South dubbed their member of Parliament, Kelvin Ramnath, as the “MP who is never seen.”
Some people called the move a game of “tit for tat” when Opposition leader Basdeo Panday announced that management committees were established to take care of the needs of constituents of the dissident MP’s.
Panday was referring to the constituencies of Chaguanas West, Mayaro and Tabaquite which he said were being neglected by MP’s Jack Warner, Winston “Gypsy” Peters and Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj.
Panday appointed himself a “surrogate father” of Chaguanas West. In response, Warner has decided to open an office in Panday’s constituency.
Now Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj has decided to open an office in the constituency of Couva South, as Kelvin Ramnath has been given the responsibility to oversee operations in Tabaquite.
In similar fashion Winston Peters is to open an office in Toco/Manzanilla, the constituency of Harry Partap.
When Newsday visited Ramnath’s Couva South area yesterday residents did not mince words as they spewed venom at their MP.
As Parbatie Nandlal awaited customers at her doubles stall she said jubilantly “I am looking forward to Maharaj coming here. He has done a lot to help people. I can’t remember the last time I saw Ramnath in the area.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by 38-year-old Roland Williams as he took time off from his job at a nearby hardware to speak to Newsday.
“Ramesh works a lot. I believe he will make a difference. Ramnath is just wasting time, he can’t perform; I don’t ever see him.”
Gowkaran Ramlagan, 52, of Ramlagan Hardware lashed out at Ramnath saying he is never around. “When do I ever see Ramnath? Anytime I go to his office to try and meet with him. He is never there. I am happy that Ramesh is coming. It is a very good thing!”
Meanwhile, 61-year-old vegetable vendor Dolly Surujbally complained about the bad roads in Balmain, and her failure to get a response from MP Ramnath.
“I don’t see him; I live at the back of the pavilion, and the roads are deplorable but he did nothing to help. Let Ramesh come he will make a difference.”
Barbara Garcia lamented to Newsday that Ramnath must have tried his best, but unfortunately his best was not good enough.
“I feel Ramesh will do more for the people, and the area really needs someone who is interested in the welfare of the people of Couva South.”
However security officer Sylvester Cardogan made an appeal to the UNCA to get their act together and “truly unite.”
Cardogan said while he does not have a problem with Maharaj or Ramnath he has a problem with their inability to come together and “get the party back on track.”
