Arima residents can look forward to a new market, a new town hall and a new hospital, Mayor Ghassan Youseph announced yesterday. Speaking during a church service commemorating the 123rd anniversary of the borough at the Santa Rosa RC Church, Youseph said the council recently approved a method of financing for construction of the new town hall building which would ensure no cost overruns and the borough would eventually own the structure. "Construction can start as soon as a contract is awarded," he said, although he did not say when tenders would go out for the contract.
The mayor also revealed that the corporation had approved terms of reference for a multi-ministry committee to develop a strategic plan for a new market. "We are hoping to house all Arima's street vendors here (at the new market), including those who use the corporation car park and those housed at the former court house," he said. Youseph also spoke about the death of eight-year-old Asia Archibald who succumbed to dengue fever last week. "While little Asia's untimely passing cannot be attributed directly to the lack of a full-service hospital in Arima, it certainly brings into focus the need for one," he said.
"It is my understanding that the Ministry of Health, with the support of the Government, is committed to commencing construction of a full-fledged hospital in Arima in the third quarter of next year." Yesterday's church service preceded a military street parade which was viewed by hundreds of onlookers. Detachments from the Army, Coast Guard, Air Guard, Police Service, Arima Municipal Police, Fire Service and Prisons Service participated, along with contingents from the T&T Red Cross, Pathfinders and Cadets.