Friday, February 22 2008

RESIDENTS of Lisas Gardens in Couva have been choking and in the case of several children and babies, falling ill, from inhaling dust which has covered the area and which emanates from the construction site of the new Couva Junior Secondary School.

The residents said they are all for progress and the construction of the school will improve the area, but progress must be done not to the detriment of the residents.

According to residents, work on the school began last May and dust from mounds of sand, blows directly into their homes.

Worried mother Nekeisha Paul, 24, said her two-month-old twins — son Shane and daughter Syndey – as well as three-year-old niece Deshelle — have all experienced breathing problems and developed nasal allergies, which she attributes to the dust.

On Tuesday Shane had to be hospitalised at the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) after he started wheezing. “Since December I’ve spent about $5,000 in medication for the children — it is very hard,” Paul complained. A safety officer at the construction site told Newsday they were aware of the complaints and efforts were being made to correct the problem. “We intend to create a wash-bay to clean vehicles, erect a dust mesh and also wash down the roads more regularly,” he promised.