Point Fortin was a victim of the last government's inaction and lack of commitment to the development of the area but, especially with two government ministers from the community, residents will now see a great deal of development in the coming five years.
That good news was delivered to members of the Point Fortin business community during the commissioning ceremony of the eTeck Point Fortin Business Park on Monday by Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon and National Security Minister Edmund Dillon, the MP for the area. Both grew up in the area.
"You are twice blessed to have two Point Fortin residents as members of Cabinet," Dillon told the group gathered under a tent in Techier Village.
"That speaks volumes because the Government has indicated that the people of Point stand to benefit over the coming five years. Point Fortin will see a great deal of development from the PNM."
Dillon said Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat visited Point Fortin last week to see how he could re-energise the cocoa industry in an area which revolves around oil and gas. Development of recreational parks and community centres is coming to Point Fortin as well, he said.
"The Sports Minister (Daryl Williams) also visited the area and said the next big project the ministry will be working on is Mahaica Oval. You will be seeing development, you will be seeing activities in Point."
Gopee-Scoon said: "Regrettably, Point Fortin was a victim of the last government's inaction and lack of commitment to the development of this area."
She lamented the People's Partnership's taking away of most of the 56 acres of eTeck's land to build the Point Fortin Hospital.
"As far back as May 2007, under the last PNM Administration, eTecK commenced the development of 56 acres on this very site aimed at providing 32 fully-developed plots of land for light industrial use.
"However, in May 2012, the former Cabinet approved the transfer of most of these lands to the Ministry of Health for the construction of the Point Fortin Hospital.
"By October 2014, perhaps for a particular purpose, the Cabinet subsequently agreed to recommence the development of the Point Fortin Park on a smaller scale. Very little was done.
"I am pleased that this Government, through eTecK, has intervened to ensure that this much needed and long overdue infrastructure project is delivered to you, the business people of Point Fortin.
"We estimate a minimum of 245 permanent jobs, with some 185 persons being employed during the build out phase."
Gopee-Scoon said the Government is already looking at nearby lands to expand the park.
The minister said eTeck owns and operates 17 fully occupied light industrial Parks within almost every region of the country. Point Fortin is the eighteenth.
She said over the last five years no new industrial parks were developed but Government intends to aggressively roll out the Piarco AeroPark Project, which will create an Aerotropolis of five zones on more than 160 acres of land, as well as the first phase of the Tamana InTech Park during fiscal 2016.