The recent disclosure by Works and Transport Minister, Colm Imbert that Government plans to construct a $1.5 billion port over the next three years, as well as the proposed $850 million Toruba sports complex confirm that Trinidad and Tobago is a wealthy Caribbean nation.

When such large sums of money are at stake Government must listen to what citizens are saying regarding where such large sums of money should be spent. Two areas that repeatedly cry out for attention are roads and water.

For too long too many people in this rich country are denied an adequate water supply and good roads. While this also affects people in the city, it is the rural peoples who feel the brunt of this national neglect.

In today's gospel, a Canaanite woman comes shouting, “ Sir, Son of David, have pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil. ” We have heard similar cries among our people, “Sir, Mr Manning, have pity on us. We are tormented for years by a lack of water” or “Sir, Mr Panday, have pity on us. We are tormented by high taxi fares due to deplorable roads.”

In today's gospel what stirs the disciples to action is not genuine concern for the woman, an “outsider”, but the embarrassment she is causing them – “ Give her what she wants because she is shouting after us. ”

Similarly, people shouting and holding up empty buckets or roads blocked by debris and fire are an embarrassment to any government. Ministry officials are forced to act, but mainly to save face or to secure votes.

DECENTRALISATION NEEDED

Governments are not the only offenders here. All institutions are guilty of this – big corporations embarrassed by the wealth they amass start investing in community projects; companies embarrassed by pollution they have caused belatedly begin implementing proper policy to safeguard environmental health; organisations embarrassed by the racial composition of their employees, or exclusion of people with disabilities, reluctantly start striving to be an “equal opportunity employer”.

However, being forced to act honourably out of embarrassment is not virtue. Virtue implies a genuine concern and respect for people. This concern and respect is not contingent on race, class, religion or geography. It is grounded in each person being a child of God vested with inalienable rights, including the right to decent roads and an adequate water supply.

Part of the problem here is centralisation. Too much money is concentrated in the hands of central government; more money must be given to regional corporations so they can address the needs of people who live in rural areas.

These needs are many but none so basic as people's everyday need for water and good roads. People in remote rural villages do not ask for much; all the more reason why it is unconscionable to deny them these basic amenities for years while we reap billions in oil and natural gas.

Constructing a $1.5 billion port would mean nothing to the people in rural areas if trucks are unable to pass, or if transport fees increase exponentially due to deplorable roads. People should not have to be shouting for what government can easily provide in this time of plenty.

As we continue to hear of billion dollar investments, let us hope that more respect will be shown to poor people in rural areas as they desperately cry out for their everyday needs.