Chaguanas helps the unemployed

THE Chaguanas Borough Corporation yesterday extended a helping hand towards unemployed burgesses through the creation of the largest pedestrian mall in Trinidad and Tobago for the Christmas season.

Chaguanas Mayor Suruj Rambachan told Newsday that the Corporation has started the registration of street vendors from the borough who will be allowed to carry out their trade in Chaguanas from December 1 to December 30. Rambachan said as Mayor he had a responsibility to deal with crime and unemployment in Chaguanas. He noted that since the closure of Caroni (1975) Ltd and the loss of several service sector jobs in Central Trinidad, there has been a monthly decline in revenue in Central Trinidad of the order of $30 to $35 million. Rambachan explained that such changes demand understanding and responsible action from those in authority and this was why the Chaguanas pedestrian mall has been given the green light. He said the mall will stretch from the NP gas station on the Chaguanas Main Road to Ives Street and will be “the biggest mall which the country has ever seen.” The mayor said registered vendors will be given photo ID cards in order to weed out illegitimate vendors, there will be increased police foot patrols, there will be adequate access for emergency vehicles and the deadline for deliveries and pick-ups will be 10.30 am.

Rambachan disclosed that a few businessmen raised objections to the mall but he assured them that the mall will see “an increase in traffic” which will redound to the benefit of all Chaguanas merchants. The mayor lamented that some businessmen had no proper understanding of the current socio-economic climate and the need to “strike a balance.” He said this proposal was better than wasting valuable police resources to charge vendors and bring them before the court. The mayor further charged that some “unscrupulous businessmen” contribute to under-employment by paying salaries that are below the minimum wage. He also said security cameras will be installed at strategic locations to assist in the fight against crime and several initiatives arising out a tour of the borough he conducted with senior police officers are bearing fruit. Speaking on condition of anonymity, one businessman said Chaguanas businessmen have no problem with the mayor’s proposal but believed it was being implemented in the wrong way. He claimed Rambachan, Deputy Mayor Orlando Nagessar and Chaguanas MP Manohar Ramsaran seem unreceptive to their concerns. The businessman said former PNM Chaguanas candidate Ian Alleyne has agreed to meet with the businessmen to discuss their concerns.