Tamana Eteck in the making

Hassanali made the statement in an address at the launch of Tamana Intech Park at Wallerfield on Wednesday.

According to Hassanali, Gaylord Kelshall, a military historian said some 15,000 local persons were employed in the early 1940s to build what became the largest military base in the world — then known as Fort Read. There were seven fire stations and two power stations, and tremendous infrastructure to support some 300 resident aircraft with one taking off and landing every three minutes. However the base was abandoned at the end of the World War II. Again in 1972, the Caribbean Aviation Training Institute (CATI) was set up at Wallerfield and, after training many aviators, it was also abandoned.

Some structures remained and will be restored, he said. "We even went through a phase where Wallerfield was known for less than desirable activity, strewn with almost limitless garbage and inhabited by thousands of healthy corbeaux. He added that with the help of the community his organisation has transformed the park into what is now suitable for display to potential investors and partners.

However, he noted, there are still 20 to 30 corbeaux sometimes perched on the old CATI buildings as they continue to resist amicable relocation. Apparently they appear to be waiting a better offer, he quipped.

What the organisation has now is an area of some 1,100 acres with two large runways, rich flora and fauna with some very special species, and a history on which to build. He emphasised that his organisation intended to create industrial activity within a park in harmony with community and environment.

On this occasion he said Eteck is embarking on what it believes is a model approach to development in terms of technology, architecture, environment management and industry and community partnering. "We will have a most advanced state of the art wireless telecommunications system and the presence of the UTT for research and development as their competitive advantages," he said

He also noted that potential park tenants and business partners were realising these prospects with every meeting and development session.