Camille: No decision yet to relocate Breakfast Shed

PLANNING and Develop-ment Minister Camille Robinson-Regis yesterday said the Urban Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago (Udecott) has taken no decision to relocate The  Breakfast Shed from the Port-of-Spain port as work proceeds on the Port-of-Spain International Waterfront Project (PoSIWP). She added Udecott is a wholly-owned State company which reports through her to Cabinet. In a statement yesterday, the Minister said the project would take place on 3.338 hectares of land at King’s Wharf in Port-of-Spain. This land was leased to Udecott by the Port Authority of TT (PATT) and the project’s completion date is May 31, 2007. She said under the former government, discussions were held three years ago with Breakfast Shed vendors, and a commitment was given that the vendors would be temporarily accommodated at the site of the current Government Campus Plaza Project, and Breakfast Shed occupiers were shown plans for the temporary facility.

“The subsequent change in administration and Cabinet’s authorisation to proceed with the Government Campus Plaza Project on Richmond Street, as well as the PoSIWP rendered it impractical, if not impossible, to relocate The Breakfast Shed to the Richmond Street site,” Robinson-Regis said. She indicated that during a May 14 meeting between Udecott, project manager Genivar and other stakeholders, the PATT said The Breakfast Shed’s relocation was Udecott’s responsibility. In a subsequent meeting, the Port-of-Spain City Corporation  informed Udecott that it could not assist in the matter. The Minister said Genivar discussed a series of options with Breakfast Shed stakeholders and they have indicated to Genivar that either Udecott relocate The Breakfast Shed or on completion of the new facility, the costs of the rents be subsidised by Government or the City Corporation.

“To date, the Board of Udecott has not taken any formal position on the matter of whether the occupants of The Breakfast Shed would be provided with facilities in the new development and in the event of same, whether a rental fee would be charged or whether Udecott would approach Government to provide a subsidy to the occupants,” she stated. The minister added that only suggestions and not sanctions were proposed to Breakfast Shed occupants. Noting that The Breakfast Shed has had many homes in Port-of-Spain over the years, Robinson-Regis expressed confidence that “a solution will be found that will satisfy all concerned and that the important role The Breakfast Shed has played in the development of the capital city for 40 years will not be lost.”