Big bucks for Jack's ministry but he would like more

Works Minister Jack Jack toured Bamboo #1 Sunday morning and vowed to end flooding in Trinidad and Tobago before his term expires.

Warner said he wants that to be his legacy.

Warner and members of his technical team looked at the drainage systems in several communities and concluded that "gross neglect over the last ten years" was the principal cause of the excessive flooding in the area.

“There are drains which are too small to carry the quantity of water. The drains are filled with mud and slush and stagnant water which is a breading ground for mosquitoes,” he told reporter accompanying him on the tour.

He observed that there was no proper planning and pointed out that in some cases the authorities built "pavement upon pavements", which ended up blocking water courses.

“This is ludicrous and ridiculous,” the minister said. He added that it doesn't take a lot of money to fix some of the problems.

“I pledge I would correct them. Some would be done immediately and some would be done in the coming weeks. These problems shall be resolved,” he promised.

On Saturday during the walkabout in Lopinot the minister heard about - and saw for himself - the problems that people in the community face.

These include lack of and dilapidated infrastructure, and an absence of basic services.

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Warner also told reporters his ministry is getting the biggest slice of the budget pie in the fiscal measures to be announced on September 8.

Warner himself is happy for that. However he still feels he could use more money because of the enormous task that his ministry has to undertake.

During the walkabout in Lopinot Warner told reporters, “I must confess, though the Ministry of Works and Transport got the biggest part of the budget, I am not happy with the amount.

"There is so much to be done; Look at Lopinot alone, people’s homes are falling into rivers and the roads are in a poor state. The transportation sector needs help.

“It would take for me a herculean task to try and do the things I would want to do with the money that has been given to my ministry.

“But I believe with prudent management it can be done, it must be done, we have to prioritise in the nation’s best interest."