No date yet for Christmas light up of Botanic Gardens

No date has as yet been set for the annual Christmas ceremony for the lighting up of the Botanical Gardens in Scarborough. And there will be no lighting of the tree ceremony, with sources say was a result of there being no funds to do this.

Food Production and Fisheries Secretary Hayden Spencer confirmed on Tuesday that the Gardens would be lit, even though preparations have not yet begun.

“What has happened is that the guy who usually builds it, is unable to do all the designs this year. So, we are looking at sourcing assistance from Works (Division of Infrastructure). We are on for the Tobago lighting up of the Gardens, although it might not be on the usual time. We are focused on how soon we can get the job completed. The preparations have not started as yet,” he said.

Spencer said the decision was still to be made on hosting of the annual ceremony to turn on the light.

Sources said lack of funds will also see half of the Gardens, closer to the Northside Connector Road being lit rather than the entire area to the Claude Noel Highway.

Meanwhile, downtown Scarborough will host its first Christmas Village from December 11-16. The Village will be set up on the Scarborough Esplanade, where the public can buy Christmas cakes, drinks and other treats, as well as household supplies and other items.

The event will also feature a children’s play zone, and live entertainment.

The Christmas Village is being hosted by the Division of Community Development, Enterprise Development, and Labour’s Business Development Unit.