Chairman of the Couva Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation Henry Awong said the Prime Minister’s recent criticism of regional corporations is unjustified and unfair.
During the handing over the Skinner Park in San Fernando on Monday, PM Dr Keith Rowley said corporations were not functioning effectively, noting that he almost lost his house two months ago because of a landslip that the Diego Martin Corporation could not fix.
However, Awong said: “If the regional corporations are not properly resourced, we will encounter problems. We depend on the Central Government for allocation and if the Central Government is failing to provide the necessary funding and manpower resources, then we will experience the problems we are experiencing now.”
He said the corporation currently did not have a Road Officer 1, 2 or 3, nor did it have an accountant.
Awong said they need proper manpower resources to be effective.
He said the PM’s statement was unfair and he called on the PNM Government to get their priorities right.
“We are dealing with the everyday needs of the everyday man, garbage, recreation parks and drains and landslips. The Government has to properly resource us,” Awong said.
Awong recommended that a per cent of the national budget be given to the corporation.
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