No money but 3 corporations think big

They may not have received any funding for the current financial year as yet, but the vision and plans of at least three regional corporations are as diverse as the burgesses they serve.

The Chaguanas Borough Corporation’s (CBC) vision is to make the central borough the safest place to live in both TT and the Caribbean. The Penal/Debe Regional Corporation’s (PDRC) dream is to generate employment through promotion of local culture as well as encourage the development of indigenous tourism.

The Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation’s (MRCRC) plans are simple: to reduce instances of flooding while ensuring that residents have access to a potable water supply, as several areas in the rural corporation are still without pipe-borne water. Interviewed yesterday, PDRC chairman Dr Allen Sammy said corporations have only received funds to pay salaries and garbage collection but not for developmental projects such as fixing roads, bridges and drains. However, Sammy said this will not prevent the corporation from petitioning for the re-establishment of a Heritage Festivals Week Fund, which would be used to showcase local culture and promote tourism and local cottage industries.

“We want to introduce it on a scaled-down version this year pending approval for the next financial year,” he said, adding, “there are other projects as well, such as the Bunsee Trace mud volcano so we can promote that as a tourist site, as there is a beautiful beach there and red howler monkeys you can see in the wild.

For his part, Chaguanas Mayor Gopaul Boodhan’s goal is to make Chaguanas the, “safest city” through the participation of all stakeholders, including the religious organisations, the business community, the security services and the sporting organizations. “For 2018, there will also be a heavy focus on youth development in all areas of national life, in sport, in education, culture and discipline,” he said.

“We also want to assist in the building of strong family bonds and family ties because that has broken down over the years so we try to rebuild family life in the community. All of these initiatives are aimed at harnessing a close knit community within the borough and moving Chaguanas forward, from borough to city.” MRCRC chairman Glen Ram said the corporation had already submitted its plans and projects to the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Development for funding.

“There are a number of bridges and road and water projects – laying of water mains for a number of people who are without potable water – and we are hoping that through the ministry and with some assistance from the special-purposes companies, we will be able to do some of those projects we have identified,” he said.