"I always tell people that when I leave here (the constituency), they are going to put my name in their mouth because I really going to try my best to get things done," St Ann's East MP Joanne Thomas has said about the type of legacy she hopes to leave behind.

On the top of her agenda is fixing La Canoa Road; securing a health centre in Maracas, St Joseph; fixing roads stemming from Laventille Road and Duncan Street.

She also wants to oversee the refurbishment of the Brian Lara Recreation Ground and the La Pastora Ground in collaboration with Sport Minister Anil Roberts.

Among her major achievements she told the Sunday Express last week is the $6.5 million approval for the Las Cuevas fishing market and the on-going upgrade of Fort Abercromby in Las Cuevas after consultation with former Minister of Tourism Rupert Griffith.

But Thomas, who says she walks every Saturday through her area alternating days for the three major areas (Las Cuevas, Maracas and Santa Cruz), says Maracas and Las Cuevas were treated like bastard children before her arrival.

But she believes there is still a lot more to be done in that area including the upgrade of the car park and toilet facilities for the vendors at Maracas Bay.

And unemployment remains a serious issue throughout her constituency.

"In Las Cuevas especially, there is a lot of poverty and the URP and CEPEP, those things were taken away...In Cantaro, the youth there also have no jobs because of the same situation with URP and CEPEP which were taken away. It's really bad," she said.

Thomas said the regularisation of residency of some of her constituents who live in Maracas Bay was also an issue.

Thomas listed other projects to be pursued and undertaken.

She said she also toured the dilapidated Saut D'Eau Road with former minister of works Jack Warner and got a commitment form him.

She said she was glad Emmanuel George is the new minister in charge of that because she was confident he will address that problem.

She said over $20 million was approved during the last administration for road improvements on Lahore Road and that is being pursued.

Thomas, a former councillor for St Ann's/Cascade said she staved off protest action from Lahore residents and instead arranged for residents and herself to meet with Warner to see what could be done.

"I think burning tyres and street protest should be a last resort and I always prefer to have consultation with the stakeholders because I think that is more effective and constructive," she said.

She said the issue of the health centre at Maracas has been referred to Minister of Health Dr Fuad Khan.

And last year she completed a book drive for students in the Maracas, Las Cuevas and Santa Cruz areas that donated book bags filled with notebooks, copybooks and other school tools.

Besides the walkabouts every Saturday, Thomas said she has set aside Thursdays for meeting with the people from her constituency at her office at Saddle Road.

She said to make it easier for people from Maracas Bay Village and Las Cuevas, she brokered a deal to use a room at the Maracas Bay Community Centre to meet with those residents on their assigned Thursdays.

Thomas said she was comfortable working with opposition MPs to get results for her constituents.

"If you talk to anybody, they will tell you I am a very warm, personable person and I don't hold nothing for nobody...I get along fine with all of them. As I see it, Jesus put me here to do a job for the people and who don't like it, I cyah' do nothing about that," she said.