Port-of-Spain Mayor Joel Martinez is reaching out to the business community to step in and invest in the capital city to take a more active role in fixing its problems.
He was speaking at a breakfast meeting at City Hall Wednesday morning. He said he heard the cries of the citizens and the other stakeholders to clean the city, fix the potholes and more. He said people often forget that there is a fixed budget in which the majority is usually spent on salaries. In an impassioned plea, he called for the business committee to step in and help.
“People don't realise that they look at the big picture. They see we get $250 million. But 200 of the 250 million goes to salaries and recurrent expenditure. And yet still [they say] fix the potholes. Fix the leaks, get rid of that, do this, pick up the garbage and things like that,” Martinez said.
He said even though it was the role of the Corporation to clean the streets, the Corporation doesn't dirty the streets but his team is always called upon to keep them clean. He said if businesses can, they should fix some of their issues themselves as well.
Mayor Martinez commended Unit Trust Corporation and other businesses which have taken care of the Brian Lara Promenade’s southern side, and he wants businesses to do the same in their area.
“We want to engage the rest of the business community for the rest of the promenade,” Martinez said. “We want to ask you to upgrade your facades as a business community. Upgrade your storefront. Paint it.”
Also speaking at the breakfast meeting was Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee Scoon. She said she was happy to see businesses bouncing back after the pandemic. Speaking specifically about the physical spaces she said the Government is doing its part to enhance the look of the city. She pointed specifically to the refurbishment of the Red House. Minister Gopee Scoon called on businesses to take a special look at cleaning up their surroundings, especially as the 60th Anniversary of Independence draws near.
“I think we also want to ask you what you can do on your part, to ensure that Port-of-Spain looks brighter and smarter, I certainly want to ask you as we turn 60, to do whatever you can so that when we wake up in the morning of let's say, the 15th of August, that we see a bright Port-of-Spain that is celebrating the independence,” Gopee- Scoon said. “So please do as much as you can and as proud Trinbagonians to ensure that your front spaces of your businesses are in fact clean and bright and decorated.”
The Trade and Industry Minister also agreed with the mayor saying, having an attractive location or attractive space will always encourage customers to keep coming back to Port of Spain. She acknowledged the issue of crime and security, which was raised by the business owners, was getting Government's attention.