Port of Spain marks 110th anniversary – Prayers, parade in Trinidad and Tobago's capital

PUNDIT Ganesh Maharaj encouraged council members of the Port of Spain City Corporation to “do as much good as you can, for as many people as you can, for as long as you can.”

He gave this advice while speaking at the interfaith service to mark the 110th anniversary of the Port of Spain City Corporation at the All Saints' Anglican Church on Marli Street on June 21.

Imam Jaffari Saleem in his greetings encouraged council members to “be each other’s brothers in faith or equals in humanity.”

He urged those in positions of power to not only be mindful of their own duties but of those who are dependent on them.

Mayor Chinua Alleyne used the service to announce several key initiatives aimed at improving the city.

“Over the past ten months, we have made significant investments in our fleet to improve solid waste collection,” he said.

Alleyne said the city is in discussions to launch a recycling initiative. Highlighting infrastructure improvements, Alleyne said, “Our programme of road and footpath restoration started in the central business district and has expanded across the city.”

This initiative aims to improve accessibility and safety for residents and visitors alike and will continue into the next fiscal year.

He announced efforts to improve traffic flow and parking availability as steps that are critical to rationalise the use of the road system. “We have resumed parking enforcement activities in collaboration with the Police Service.” This move comes after a four-year hiatus.

Tourism, Alleyne said, remains a key focus.

“Our investment in welcoming cruise ship visitors to the capital city has been a priority.” He said collaboration with Pan Trinbago, the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation, and the National Carnival Commission are vital to host Carnival 2025. He said the corporation is working with the Emancipation Support Committee on the Pan African Festival TT.

The mayor also paid tribute to Dr Enrique Prada, PoS' first mayor who played a crucial role in restoring the municipality by way of a resolution brought to the Legislative Council on June 25, 1913, calling for the restoration of the municipality.

This led to the incorporation of the City of Port of Spain on June 26, 1914.

TRAFFIC CHAOS

Hundreds of onlookers lined the streets to witness the military parade which was a hallmark of the celebrations.

The parade which followed the interfaith service, began at 11 am at the Queen's Park Savannah and made its way down to Frederick Street.

Groups taking part were officers from the Regiment, Coast Guard, the Defence Force Reserves, the Band of Corps of Drums, the Air Guard, the TTPS, Cadet Force, Municipal Police, the Fire Service, Prison Service, traffic wardens, the Military-Led Academic Training (MILAT) Academy, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the Scouts Association, the Guides Association and the Seventh Day Adventist Pathfinders group.

The parade ended opposite City Hall where the groups saluted mayor Alleyne as they marched past.

While streets on the parade route were clear, other streets in the city were packed with heavy traffic with motorists complaining of being unable to move for several minutes.

A disgruntled driver said that around 11 am, Charlotte and Park streets had the most traffic. "From Queen's Park East, Charlotte, St Vincent and Park (streets) had a lot of traffic. They needed to have this on a Saturday or have a better way of advertising which streets were closed off," the driver said.

"I don't think this event was that important as to cause this level of inconvenience to the motoring public on a Friday. Many of us don't even know the significance of the event taking place which is causing this kind of traffic congestion," he said.

Another motorist said that Duncan, Queen, Duke and Henry streets were all "blocked up" with heavy traffic.

– With additional reporting by ENRIQUE RUPERT