Daniel Solomon, chairman of the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) says implementation of a water taxi service from Port-of-Spain to Chaguaramas had to be accelerated when the agency realised visitor arrivals to the area began to increase with the creation of the boardwalk.And with increasing curiosity among the public about the agency's new zip-line which is among the many adventures coming to the peninsula, a transportation alternative was essential to meet the expected demand.
Planning Minister Dr Bhoe Tewarie launched the new, but limited service yesterday. Sailings, for now, will only take place on weekends and it will not be more than 15 minutes to and from both departure and arrival points at the nominal cost of $20.
The minister expressed his satisfaction that the dream was realisedafter almost ten month of discussions.
Solomon said, "Since the launch of the Boardwalk in May 2012, we have seen a vast increase in the number of visitors to the Chaguaramas peninsula."Added to that, just a month ago, we turned the sod to commence work on Phase 2 of the Boardwalk soon to present a family of projects designed to attract keen investment opportunities locally, regionally and internationally."
He added, "This service has been in the planning stages for some time with the National Infrastructure Development Company (NIDCO) and the CDA, moving beyond just planning, to actively pick up the pace and aggressively put the elements of the vision in place."Solomon described the launch as heralding a new wave of success not only for the CDA, but the NIDCO, too, in addressing the traffic woes that were synonymous with the area when major events are held.
The family of projects to which Solomon referred will include fishing piers, waters features, gazebos for cooking and liming and rock climbing which are scheduled to be completed by the third quarter of 2014.Based on the vision of the CDA, Solomon said, Chaguaramas will be transformed into one of the country's most attractive and in-demand commercial entertainment and recreation centres.
He spoke of the CDA's strategy which was based fundamentally on improving the lives of citizens, while driving a culture of entrepreneurship which adds up to a high standard of living.
"Apart from the Boardwalk family of projects, investment opportunities also abound with the upgrade of the Chaguaramas Hotel and Convention Centre and the development of a world class marina; the upgrade of the Golf Course at Tucker Valley to meet international standards that can attract international tournaments; and the transformation of Hart's Cut into an old world village, similar to that of Venice," he said.
Solomon added, "These projects will significantly enhance the social and economic landscape of our nation, creating employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for the citizens of T&T. We at the CDA are about transforming lives and creating viable opportunities for sustainable development."The CDA's chief executive Joycelin Hargreaves said each development initiative by the authority showcased T&T culture and the national concern for the environment.
She described Chaguaramas as always being a cross road on many levels be it a meeting place for continents, historic peoples, new cultures and soon activity on the western ebb of T&T will be welcoming the globe.
Hargreaves said, "Chaguaramas has now become one of the most attractive investment opportunities in the Caribbean. Chaguaramas features some of the most diverse geographies, climate and attractions, that can create a unique experience for our visitors, buyers and many more tourist in the near future. The authority recognises that as it prepares stakeholders, local communities and investors for the new business in Chaguaramas, it must also reorganise its business operations to become more of a facilitator�to create an environment that makes investor feel confident to commit to the region and create real value for their customers and visitors."