Sou Sou Lands donates 40 acres in Chickland for zoo

Caroni Central MP Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh has said the proposed zoo in central Trinidad should open up employment opportunities for the residents of the area. Ramadharsingh was  addressing the media, along with Stephen Cadiz, Minister of Tourism, who visited the site for the proposed zoo at Chickland, in the Central Range.

Ramadharsingh said since the closure of Caroni (1975) Ltd in 2003, the economy of central Trinidad had slowed down tremendously. He said Caroni Central in particular was a landlocked community without any industrial activities. “The people find difficulty in finding economic space and development, anything that is placed in this area would stimulate economic activity,” he said.

“The zoo would serve as an avenue for ecotourism and holds the potential of attracting foreigners.” The two-hour tour started an hour late because of the late arrival of Cadiz, who was shown plans for the area by Lennox Sankersingh, chairman of Sou Sou Lands Ltd. Attorney Sankersingh said Sou Sou Lands had donated 40 acres of land to the State for the project from its 393-acre site in Chickland. The land is in a valley.

Cadiz said the concept was to establish a habitat-type environment to allow for a wider range of animals and even create a nocturnal zoo. He said the project would generate employment and economic activity and there was even scope for putting a hotel in the area to cater for international visitors who were attracted by the ecotourism thrust. However, Cadiz said he does not know when the project would start or how much it would cost, since further studies would have to be done.