New image for lighthouse

The Port-of-Spain lighthouse, historically known as the St Vincent Jetty Light, has been brought to life and now has a vastly new image. After years of being the unnoticeable focal point along the Beetham Highway into the city, the 120-year-old monument is now draped in the national colours. In commemoration of the Soca Warriors’ qualification for the World Cup 2006 in Germany, life-sized footballs have also been included on the refurbished structure. The PoS Lighthouse was built in the 1880s at the base of the St Vincent Jetty, and its light was visible from ten miles away.

However, since the shoreline has been extended, the original purpose of the lighthouse has been lost. The newly refurbished monument was officially unveiled during a ribbon cutting ceremony at the PTSC compound yesterday. “Today, the lighthouse has been brought to life and stands tall as the largest and only branded monument in the country,” said Corbin Communication’s Ronald Murray. He highlighted that the design for the structure was conceptualised by Corbin at the end of November and a design proposal was presented to Berger Paints Trinidad Ltd within one week.

He added that a committee was then set up by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as part of the Self-Help Clean-Up Campaign for the Sea Lots area. Murray stated that work on the structure was completed within two weeks, beginning on December 17 and ending yesterday. Also present at yesterday’s event was PoS Mayor, Murchison Brown, Ministry of Works and Transport Deputy Permanent Secretary, James Howard and Berger Paints General Manager, Bernard Clarke. Asked about the cost of the project, Clarke would only say that the work on the lighthouse is an ongoing project and no substantial cost has been put towards it. However, he said that from time to time the image of the monument is expected to change.