Chaguanas, Couva left in wilderness

I refer to the most recent announcement by the Minister of National Security that $23 million would be spent to set up cameras in San Fernando and Port-of-Spain but no announcement was made for Chaguanas and Couva, both of which are under increasing criminal attacks.

The expansion of the town of Chaguanas has outgrown the infrastructure including traffic exits and entrances out of and into Chaguanas.

The Chaguanas Health Centre is woefully inadequate with respect to the almost doubling of the population through the last ten years.

Primary schools are now inadequate in terms of spaces especially at the Montrose Government and Chaguanas Government Schools.

The Montrose Vedic School is cramped with near 700 students in the middle of the town.

Over the last three years I have had meetings with several Government ministers (Ministers Saith and Sahadeo) about the cramped situation at the Montrose Vedic School. The Chaguanas Borough Corporation is in possession of correspondence from Caroni (1975) Ltd allocating land on Factory Road to the school. Despite these meetings nothing has happened.

In the Budget of 2006, the Hon Prime Minister announced that funds were allocated for the development of the Charlieville Recreation Facilities.

Despite continued calls to Mr Roger Boynes and the presentation of conceptual designs to the Sports Company no action has been forthcoming.

The Chaguanas Borough Corporation was the first to complete plans and have them approved for a new Town Hall.

The Hon Minister, Mr Dumas amidst much fanfare launched the project in Chaguanas. Almost a year after, the Ministry cannot get its act together with Udecott to execute the project, or is it that the ministry finds it embarrassing to start a Town Hall in a Regional Corporation governed by the UNC? I am left to wonder and ponder. The Chaguanas Borough Corporation has noted over and over the absence amongst others of the following convenient public services in Chaguanas:

1. A full service facility for licensing and inspection of vehicles; 2. A division of the Town and Country Planning Division; 3. A five day Passport Service; 4. An Office to receive VAT payments in Chaguanas; 5. A transit hub as described in the Halcrow Report of 2000; 6. A Performing Arts Centre; 7. A swimming pool; 8. Public lawn tennis courts.

The market in Chaguanas needs to be relocated on 25 acres of land. The concept of a market mall is suggested.

On nearly all of the above matters letters have been dispatched to the Prime Minister.

Finally I am making a public appeal to the Minister of Works to start the rest of the projects which were agreed upon to alleviate the traffic situation in Chaguanas.

Surujrattan Rambachan

Mayor of Chaguanas