00:00Unfortunately, last night, about 3.30, there was a big bang, and when you look at it, it
00:07was the bridge collapse.
00:10This century-old bridge has shown signs of deterioration for some time, and on Wednesday
00:16morning finally gave out.
00:19The massive structure came crashing into the river below.
00:23Some residents left thankful because it happened while they were all asleep, instead of making
00:29their way across it.
00:31But what it now means is that the 12 children and about 25 adults will have to find some
00:38other way across the water if they are to move in and out of the area.
00:43I came across with a boat, and thank the Lord for the neighbour, we have a small boat, and
00:49you know, one person at a time will go and come, they will help just to cross.
00:54It's dangerous for the little children.
00:56We as an adult, if the boat tilts and we fall, we can still help ourselves, but with
01:01the children, you know, it's dangerous.
01:05We have two sick people, one is a heart case and one has to do dialysis.
01:10I have two grandchildren who are writing SCN, they can't go to take their lessons, their
01:18vehicles are across the river, so they can't go to work.
01:21The residents say they requested repairs on this bridge many times over the years through
01:27their mayor, Member of Parliament and the Minister of Works.
01:32And while they've never gotten a positive response, they believe the situation now demands
01:38it.
01:39It's only when things happen, then they respond.
01:45While they could fix the thing, while it's in stages that they could repair, they don't
01:53do it.
01:54They wait until things happen, until somebody dies or some disaster happens, then they respond.
02:01This boat is what they plan to use if and until help comes.
02:06But as these two know, you may not make it across as dry as you left land.
02:13On Thursday, the area's MP and mayor were on site informing residents that the boat
02:19contacted the various ministries requesting urgent assistance.
02:24This is a situation which has been brought to the attention of the authorities since
02:292017.
02:30And as we speak, we have seven households with a total of some 40 residents who are
02:36isolated and unable to access, so they're literally marooned.
02:41I'm calling on the ministry this morning.
02:43The first thing they need to do is remove that bridge from the water because it will
02:47create a hindrance for the flow of water if there is serious rainfall, which will impact
02:52the area with flooding.
02:54And then we are requesting that in the interim, a bailey bridge be placed there so that residents
02:59can have access to and from their homes.
03:01Cindy Raghubar-Tikasingh, TV6 News.
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