Residents of Mayaro had the opportunity to raise concerns directly with government representatives on Tuesday, as Member of Parliament for Mayaro Nicholas Morris, officials from the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation, and WASA hosted a Community Office Day.
The outreach forms part of a broader effort by the government to improve service delivery in rural communities.
Minister Morris says the government is taking both immediate and long-term steps to address water supply challenges in the constituency.
He reminded that Cabinet has approved the construction of two water tank farms and a desalination plant for Mayaro, while WASA officials have been deployed to communities to address issues that can be resolved more quickly.
“Mayaro was approved at the Cabinet level for the construction of two tank farms as well as a desalination plant. So that is the medium- and long-term solutions to our water shortage and our water supply issues. But what the government has done now is to take a proactive approach, Minister Padarath, to have WASA in the communities listening to the Councillors, the Chairman, the MP, and to the constituents because in the communities you have issues that can be solved at a local level.”
Chairman of the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation, Raymond Cozier, said collaboration between elected officials and State agencies is helping to resolve issues more efficiently.
He said residents now have easier access to agencies through the offices of the MP, Councillors, and the Regional Corporation.
“It’s a collaborative approach that we are here together, to unite, to bring services to the people. So I just want to thank the MP for this effort this morning in bringing the services to the Councillor’s office to strengthen her opportunity to provide better services to the residents of her electoral district.”
Councillor for Mayaro South/Guayaguayare, Delaverne Louison, welcomed the initiative, saying it ensures rural communities are included in government’s decision-making while giving residents direct access to key agencies.
She also praised the MP’s efforts to engage communities throughout the constituency.
“We have been having a number of issues within the electoral district of Mayaro/South/ Guayaguayare and this is only the beginning. We have WASA with us. We have the Chairman, who is the Vice Chairman of T&TEC, myself, who is also the Deputy Chairman of ADB. So we want to thank the Prime Minister, you know, for recognising that we in the rural area of Mayaro can be a part of these bigger programmes.”
The Community Office Day brought together representatives from WASA and the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation, giving residents an opportunity to raise concerns ranging from water supply to other public services directly with the relevant authorities.