PLUM
MITAN is an area that has been cemented in local folklore,
in tales of fire-ball witch-vampires -- soucouyants -- flying
about at night, and children’s opposed-feet tracks (douens)
on the nearby Manzanilla beachfront.
There’s also the area’s reputation as a fertile
spot for the highest grade of marijuana this side of the Caribbean.
But what some residents fear may also become a myth in the
village of Macrease, which is about four miles west of the
popular “T-junction” that many East-coast limers
are familiar with.
The community has now dwindled to just less than 100, and
those who remain blame it solely on government’s neglect.
Davey Narine says many women have left the area, since they
say it is almost impossible to live a proper life there, especially
if it involves raising children.
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A
frustrated DAVEY
NARINE shows where
poor drainage planning
is literally undercutting
villagers’ efforts to have
a proper access road to
their community.
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“Since we know
ourselves, there has been no water, lights or anything else,”
he says.
“Once we were cut off totally when landslides
destroyed the road on both ends of the village.
“The only way out was to hike through the forest.”
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He says at that time, they begged MP Harry Partap and PNM councillor
Barry Lochan for assistance, but none came.
“We had to spend our own money to fix the road,” says
another resident, Deodath Ramjass.
“Over $7,000 to hire a tractor to cut a new road on the hill,
plus we had to get material to fill it with.”
The other landslide, which is closer to the State’s forest
reserve, remains a dead end.
“If this road were properly fixed, it would provide a straight
route to Biche, Rio Claro and other parts of South Trinidad,”
says Ramjass.
“Right now, if anyone wants to get to those areas, they either
have to go the North route, through Sangre Grande, or go deeper
south, to Mayaro.
“It’s really an inconvenience.”
The Plum Road he speaks about has not only been hit by landslides,
but also falling trees and the erosive power of the LeBranche River.
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DEODATH RAMJASS shows the road that he
and his friends paid for themselves. The old
road originally ran adjacent to the mango
tree behind him.
RAMJASS
(left) stands on what remains of
Plum Road, while RISHI BALDEO (right)
stands in the LeBranche River bank, where
the other side of the road is supposed to be.
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In some places, attempts have been made to keep the river from gobbling
the remainder of the pitiful access road, but those efforts seem
to be akin to the actions of the stable boy after the prize stallion
bolted.
“Basically, when we ask for help, we are told that this is
a UNC area, and as long as we support the rising sun, we will remain
in the dark,” says Ramjass.
“We can’t just pack up and leave our homes, land and
the community we have lived in for generations.
“Why can’t the government spend some of that oil money
here, and put lights and water?
“We might be living in the bush, but we are not animals!”
TnT Mirror was unable to reach Councillor Lochan before Press time.
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