Where is Local Government Minister Hazel Manning? This is the question Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday asked yesterday, as he levelled blame against Government Ministers for the disasters in the North East coast and central Trinidad at the weekend.

In a release, Panday slammed Manning, Works Minister Colm Imbert, Social Development Minister Dr Amery Browne and National Security Minister Martin Joseph for the collapse of the Balandra Bridge and flooding in parts of Central.

’Since Saturday, the Minister of Local Government has not toured the affected areas. Food and other necessities have not been handed out to residents. Poor construction has led to the collapse of inferior structures and the Office of Disaster Preparedness has been working with minimal resources, even though all agencies have had the last eight months to come up with a plan to deal with the crisis,’ Panday said.

’It’s as though the citizens have been deserted by those in authority. Our councillors on the ground are trying their best with little or no resources as they assess the situation. In typical PNM fashion, our constituents will have to wait months before they can access meagre grants to repurchase mattresses, stoves, fridges.’

He questioned why after 24 hours of knee high water in Central Trinidad, no assistance was rendered by Manning.

’We know that owing to neglect by the Ministry of Works and Transport, major and minor watercourses have not been maintained. The United National Congress, while in office, ensured that it maintained drains and watercourses, but after seven years of PNM rule it is obvious that the Government does not have a clue about flood mitigation and implementing strict development requirements for maintaining a proper drainage system,’ Panday said.

He added that the Government itself has been clearing hundreds of acres of land to pursue their housing agenda without addressing the need to improve the drainage.