A statue of popular chutney icon Sundar Popo will be installed in the heart of Debe in time for Indian Arrival Day celebrations in May.This was the assurance given to Popo's widow Keyso by Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal during a walkabout in Mohess Trace, Penal, on Sunday.Keyso, along with chairman of the Sundar Popo Monument Committee Gowtam Maharaj and cultural activist Ajit Praimsingh, met Moonilal during his walkabout to find out whether approval would be granted for the statue to be installed.After a brief chat with the trio, Moonilal announced that Popo's statue, which was completed two years ago, will be installed at Debe Junction in six to eight weeks, in time for Indian Arrival day.
He said: "We were trying to find the best place and (it is) Debe junction because of the enormous amount of thoroughfare during the week."Also Debe junction has become more like a tourist attraction now. People from aboard, when they come to Trinidad and Tobago, and returning residents as well, come to Debe junction. They come for the cuisine and recreational purposes."Moonilal said the site would be maintained as a heritage site complete with cultural information.He added: "We will try to have an educational dimension as well as have something written about Sundar Popo, about his contribution to culture, Indian culture, chutney and so on.If things go well we can even think about expanding that for a larger heritage site. This is the commitment we give. It will be an important project.