Chaguanas mayor Gopaul Boodhan says the borough would be exercising the full powers of the corporation when dealing with abandoned lots. Speaking with the media at Endeavour, after touring 35 infrastructure projects that are being undertaken by the Chaguanas Borough Corporation, Boodhan said abandoned lots create many problems for neighbourhoods and are the nesting grounds for vermin, criminal elements and garbage.
He said the borough may very well accept the responsibility to clean these lots and charge the owners somewhere in the vicinity of $1,000 to undertake the work. He said the borough would first serve clean-up notices to landowners. “Nothing is wrong to buy land to speculate, but what is wrong is having those lots and not taking care of it,” the mayor said.
Mayor warns of elderly abuse
Boodhan is urging burgesses to be on the lookout for elder abuse. Boodhan said while the national community remains focused on child abuse, instances of elder abuse are still being swept under the carpet. He was at the time speaking with the media yesterday when he visited the Chaguanas Home for the Aged at Caroni Savannah Road. Boodhan said instances of elderly people being verbally and physically abused, harassed for their property and pension must be taken seriously.
He said the elderly must not be cast aside because they are no longer able to contribute as a result of their physical status. The mayor said elderly people have a lot to contribute by way of experience, adding that in their youth, many of the elderly would have contributed towards the development of T&T into making this country what it is today.