Govt to re-develop East Port-of-Spain

CABINET will soon be presented with a comprehensive plan for the re-development of East Port-of-Spain. This was disclosed on Tuesday by National Housing Authority (NHA) CEO Noel Garcia following the opening of a new commercial and cultural complex by Prime Minister Patrick Manning in Maloney. Garcia told reporters that the plan currently being prepared by the NHA, and the Ministry of Housing will be in keeping with the views expressed by the Prime Minister.

In addressing the opening of the new Maloney complex, Manning said: “Based on our (Government’s) ongoing initiatives, we anticipate that by the next decade, unsightly buildings and shanties near our capital cities and semi-urban areas would then be absolutely a thing of the past.” Garcia said it has been proposed that the re-development of East Port-of-Spain would begin around the Besson Street area. He hinted that buildings that are 60 years old and older would be torn down, and the entire process done in a “phased and planned manner.”

Drawing on his knowledge as chairman of the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, Garcia said a similar plan may have to be developed for Sea Lots, given plans to expand the Port-of-Spain port to the area. Those plans were articulated in April by former works and transport minister Franklin Khan, and Garcia said he has recently briefed new Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert on those plans. The PATT chairman said an expansion of the port into Sea Lots would have an impact on Sea Lots residents and the necessary dialogue shall be held with them. Garcia reiterated his promise that if operations at the port did not improve by September, he would call on Imbert to remove him as PATT chairman, but he was optimistic that this would not be the case.