PRIME MINISTER Kamla Persad-Bissessar has done significant work in Penal — a part of her Siparia constituency — but has neglected to fix roads or other infrastructural work in the main town of Siparia.

This according to the heads of two business chambers asked to comment on the performance of Persad-Bissessar since assuming office in May 2010.

In the Sunday Express, some living in the Siparia constituency said they were not satisfied with her representation. The residents were polled for a new investigative series entitled, MP Monitor, which tracks the performance of Members of Parliament across the 41 constituencies.

Some of her Cabinet colleagues said there was a plot to embarrass her and that there were positive changes in the area since her Government came into power.

Persad-Bissessar has been the Member of Parliament for Siparia since 1995.

Lincoln Ragbirsingh, president of the Penal/Debe Chamber of Commerce said, "Since she became Prime Minister, that is the only time work was done in the Penal/Debe area, previous prime ministers were there and they have never done anything."

He said many roads were fixed and residents of Penal and Debe were appreciative of the soon-to-be established University of the West Indies South Campus and the proposed highway to Point Fortin.

Ragbirsingh said persons should not expect the Prime Minister to listen to every complaint. He said she has designated others to do that job for her.

He said even though there was still more work to be done in the area, all could not happen at one time.

About the suggested plot Ragbirsingh said, "I do not know if there is a plot. I know the internal elections are coming by and obviously there will be political propaganda falling out of that."

The United National Congress (UNC) internal elections is expected to take place on March 24.

But Keith Sankar, president of the Siparia Chamber of Commerce and lifetime resident of Siparia, said the town had not developed.

"Nothing has been done.The roads continue to get worse...Siparia Main Street is probably the worst road in Trinidad."

He said there were not only road problems but infrastructural issues pertaining to the building of the new Siparia Market and development of Irwin Park especially. Sankar said the residents are only being told promises and their hope that the People's Partnership would have made positive changes was dwindling.

Sankar said he did not believe there was any plot to embarrass the Prime Minister but residents were frustrated and that led to the protest last week.

He said, "When it was before, she (Persad-Bissessar) said she was in Opposition, and when you are in Opposition you can't do anything. You have no resources. When you are in government you have a certain level of expectation but to date, two years have passed now, and we have seen nothing that we can say yes to."

Sankar said he did not expect the Prime Minister to be at her constituency office in Penal every day "but said she should be able to meet with constituents regularly."