PoS streets to be cleaned

Welcome news for those who have frequently lamented the filthy state of several streets in the capital city. The Port of Spain City Corporation has embarked on a city-wide street cleaning programme.

Announced on Wednesday during the monthly statutory meeting of the Port of Spain City Council, the programme actually began on Monday in the central business district.

Upper Frederick Street, from Memorial Park, was swept and power washed while faded signs were given a fresh coat of pain and minor repair works conducted on side walks and drains.

Newsday found about some more about the programme from chairman of the corporation’s strategic and local economic development committee, Belmont North councillor Akil Durham.

“This programme was developed based on discussions during our strategic retreat and was subsequently tabled during the September meeting of our strategic and local economic development committee.

Similar to what we did ahead of the September 22 renaming ceremony of Queen Street to Queen Janelle Commissiong Street, the committee decided to clean and repair all of the city’s streets.”

Durham said a team comprising staff from various divisions of the city corporation would be given two weeks to complete cleaning and repair works per street. “So we’ll have gotten at least 26 streets cleaned in one year.”

“Additionally, we’ve engaged the services of a power washing expert to clean Charlotte Street for us; in-house we can tackle the less filthy streets, and we’ll engage the services of experts for the really grimy streets.”

Streets facing north-south are being cleaned first, followed by streets facing east-west.

Asked where the funding for this was coming from, Durham told Newsday, “It’s being done under the regular recurrent works, so it will come out of the regular recurrent expenditure.”

“As the mayor (Joel Martinez) would have indicated, we don’t want people only coming to the city because they have to. We want them to enjoy all that Port of Spain has to offer.

We’re trying to bring back that vibe to the city, as well as the general cleanliness for our residents and business community,” Durham stated.