Coming to central Trinidad and South are seven industrial parks to be spread over 775 acres of new industrial space, Trade and Industry Minister Vasant Bharath said yesterday."A lot of it will be in the Central area. We are moving a lot of business out of Port-of-Spain into Central and South to ensure a greater participation in income by citizens."
Bharath made the announcement at a breakfast meeting of the Chaguanas Chamber of Commerce (CCIC) in Montrose, Chaguanas. He was addressing members of the Central business community on the theme Economic Development.Chaguanas Mayor Gopaul Boodan, who spoke at the event, said they are busy working on plans to change Chaguanas from a small market town into a bustling city centre."We're going for city status," Boodan told the T&T Guardian.
He said a lot of government ministries and state agencies will be coming to Chaguanas, including the Ministry of Community Development.A Chaguanas campus of the University of the West Indies will be constructed north of the Divali Nagar site.To create space in the already crowded town, Boodan said the Town & Country Planning Act will have to be amended to allow for buildings to accommodate more space at the top.
He said the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association will also be embraced in their plans. Fisherfolk, farmers and market vendors will not be left out of their plans either, he added."We're meeting soon with the Minister of Planning, the Economic Development Board and stakeholders."CCIC president Richie Sookhai said the chamber has already set up a steering committee with the Economic Planning and Development Board to assist with the transition of Chaguanas from borough to city.
"As it is, at a sign of the pen, we can have city status. But we want ordered and constructive development."