Cook gives back $200,000

PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning had nothing to say yesterday about protests by St  Ann’s residents over reports that President’s Grounds is to be acquired as part of his new official residence. When asked for comment on the issue at yesterday’s reopening of the Breakfast Shed on Wrightson  Road, Port-of-Spain, all Manning said was, “Udecott is handling the matter.” Calder Hart, chairman of Udecott, who was at yesterday’s official ceremony told Sunday Newsday that plans for a modern, new Prime Minister’s residence are still in the initial stages. “We only got it (the plan) from the architect this week. The Prime Minister liked the idea. It was only a plan,” Hart insisted. The new, ultra-modern Breakfast Shed facility, which is located just off the Brian Lara Promenade. It is just a short distance from the original building on Dock Road which was demolished on August 15, 2006.

The new Breakfast Shed is part of a new $1.6 billion waterfront complex that is currently taking shape at the site. The waterfront complex will house the headquarters of the Association of the Caribbean States (ACS), a multi-storey five-star Hyatt business hotel and other facilities. The new and improved Breakfast Shed has 12 stalls, all with a full scenic view of the Gulf of Paria. It is operated by food vendors who have formed themselves into the group, Femmes du Chalet. Last year, the 15 food vendors at the original Breakfast Shed were offered the choice of relocation or compensation. Most opted for compensation. However, during yesterday’s ceremony, President of the Femmes du Chalet, Bernadette Smith, who had initially opted for compensation gave back her $200,000 cheque  to Udecott chairman Hart and announced that she was going back into business.