The government of the People's Republic of China, in conjunction with the Export-Import Bank of China, has entered a financial arrangement with T&T to provide $210 million for the completion of infrastructural (remedial) works on the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port-of-Spain.The revelation was made on Monday by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Surujrattan Rambachan at the signing of the framework agreement for the provision of a concessional loan, at the International Waterfront Centre on Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain.The academy, which was officially unveiled less two years ago (November 9, 2009) by the former government and the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd (Udecott), had cost taxpayers close to $500 million.
In assuring those present that this "world-class facility" (NAPA) would be "home of our cultural icons, budding artistes and blossoming students," as it strived to "showcase the talents of the nation," Rambachan said that such infrastructural works were necessary for the creation of a knowledge-based society."We attach high priority to our human resources and the development of a knowledgeable and highly-skilled society," he said."Investing in sound quality infrastructure and environment is the medium through which our goals can be achieved and our agreement today provides a significant step in this direction."
Assistant minister of the Ministry of Commerce in the People's Republic of China, Li Rongcan, said while he commended T&T on its formal opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) at NAPA, he noted that both the Port-of-Spain and San Fernando academies (the latter now under construction) could aid in fostering cultural cohesion between the two nations as they forged to strengthen diplomatic relations.
"We are happy to see that the NAPA in Port-of-Spain was completed and in 2009, this centre played host to the Commonwealth summit," he said."The NAPA project in San Fernando is going to be completed this year and I believe that the implementation of these two projects was a main contribution to the culture exchanges between our two countries and to the culture course development of T&T."Particulars of these remedial "infrastructural works" have since been sought by the Guardian but no feedback has been received from the ministry.
Rambachan: NAPAan important facility
Asked about his government's newly-found appreciation for NAPA, having cited it in his address as a "world-class facility," Rambachan noted that the People's Partnership's earlier criticism of the centre was based primarily on its improper timing."If you remember, some of the criticisms about NAPA came from the artistic community themselves and when we (PP) discussed NAPA, we were talking about priorities in terms of the use of money but the facility remains an important facility for the community and it's there and now it has to be used," he said.