MP for Couva South Rudranath Indarsingh has said while he and his People's Partnership Government have done a great deal of work in the constituency, it will take more than two-and-a-half years to address more than 40 years of neglect.

Indarsingh, a former union leader, said last week the construction of the Couva Interchange brought tremendous relief to residents and commuters who come in and out of Couva as well as users of the Point Lisas Industrial Estate and the Port of Point Lisas.

He said a new Presbyterian school has been built at Balmain while a branch of the National Energy Skills Centre, located at the former tractor shed of Caroni (1975) Ltd, was also up and running.

The Work Force Assessment Centres, launched by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, have produced 2,000 graduates while the Energy Campus at the University of Trinidad and Tobago at Point Lisas has also been started.

Indarsingh said a number of roadways have been resurfaced and upgraded with proper drainage throughout including at Calcutta number one, Phoenix, Dow Village, Basta Hall and California.

He said the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has changed water lines in the community of Esperanza while drainage work is currently being done there.

Indarsingh said the closed Calcutta Main Road Bridge will be reopened in 12-14 months.

In the meantime, the Camden Base Road is being resurfaced, at a cost of $8 million, to provide an alternative thoroughfare. This was done based on consultations with residents from Balmain and Freeport at town meetings.

He said the Ministry of Public Utilities is also spending nearly $1 million to provide electricity along that roadway as the Ministry of Works plans to make it part of the permanent road network.

Indarsingh said he had just come from a community meeting at Balmain yesterday, part of his normal Saturday routine of meeting and greeting the community.

"It is part of the mandate that people voted for me and I feel the need to meet and connect with them," he said.

He said recreation grounds in the constituency had been built and upgraded while there are plans for the completion of early childhood education centres at Phoenix Park, Milton and Lisa Gardens in Point Lisas.

Indarsingh added that WASA was completing the laying of water lines in Temple Street and John Baptiste Street, where residents were about to receive pipe-borne water for the first time in 40 years.

He said he saw people every Tuesday at his constituency office and on an emergency basis as well.

He also commended his councillors for the good working relationship they enjoyed.

His assessment of his own performance?

"Well I cannot judge myself but I am working beyond the call of duty to the best of my ability and attempting to engage every part of the constituency. And while much has been achieved in two and a half years, with scarce and limited resources people always want more to be done, especially in a constituency that could be considered one to have suffered rural neglect for the last 40 years," he said.