Cipriani Boulevard residents upset with food festival

Residents and business owners at Cipriani Boulevard yesterday expressed concern at the  decision to close Cipriani Boulevard to traffic and to hold “Taste TT: A Festival of Flavours” on May 21-22 on the Boulevard. Residents and business people said they were not asked their opinion before the festival was planned. Dave Beckles, general manager of 51 Degrees, a popular nightclub on the Boulevard, said the initiative to host the festival was good  as long as their concerns were met. “We have no problem as we are dealing with it amicably, and our parking solutions are met,” he told Newsday yesterday.

However resident Pat Stephenson said a letter was addressed to the residents inviting them to a meeting where they found that plans were already in progress. She said 35 residents attended the meeting and saw a plan for booths and toilet facilities being organised by the Ministry of Tourism and TIDCO (Tourism and Industrial Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd). She said that older citizens and children live on the Boulevard side by side with offices, clubs, bars and restaurants. “They want us to park on Tragarete Road. Will they pay for damages to our cars?” She asked. “The only compensation we are getting for that are free tickets for five days of inconvenience.” Mrs Louis, assistant manager at Mario’s Pizza, said such a festival on Cipriani Boulevard would cut back on their sales. “I don’t like that.”

The festival proposes to showcase the indigenous foods of Trinidad and Tobago, and is being organised by the Ministry of Tourism and TIDCO. A release from the ministry described the event as a culinary treat with “food booths reflecting our diverse culinary heritage, such as, Caribbean and Latin American Fusion, East Indian, Chinese, French, Italian, Syrian-Lebanese and Tobago cuisine.” Additionally, there are plans for a demonstration booth, where there will be live cooking demonstrations by local celebrity chefs and sampling of dishes as well as wine tasting. Indigenous foods such as cassava pone, doubles, shark and bake and fudge will be available at the festival.

The managers of Jenny’s and Tony Roma’s restaurants, two of the largest on the boulevard, were unavailable for comment. Minister of Tourism Howard Chin Lee did not wish to be interviewed and referred the matter to TIDCO’s office. A TIDCO official said they will be meeting with the residents to ensure all parties have a win-win situation. Office of the acting police commissioner (Mobile Unit) said plans are in progress for diverting traffic, and a number of police officers would be provided for security purposes.