Deyalsingh dreams of PoS, the 'jewel of the Caribbean'

INDEPENDENT Senator Varma Deyalsingh said he dreams of Port-of-Spain becoming the "jewel of the Caribbean" and urban and regional planning legislation can help make this a reality. He was contributing to debate on The Urban and Regional Planning Profession Bill 2019 in the Senate Tuesday.

Deyalsingh said he was disappointed there were no urban players in Government's covid19 Roadmap to Recovery team and stressed that urban planners are very important in the covid19 situation.

"They have an important role to get the country going. How to plan cities and put things in place. They should be at the forefront in the battle. They could be a voice to help against the spread of this pandemic and others that may come."

He said urban planners are trained in areas such as land management and public transportation, and also know about planning for a city in terms of healthcare.

Deyalsingh said with planning being put into a professional body, the country will have to depend on them more and more on how to plan the city. He pointed out that with covid19 there will be the new normal of six feet apart and the planners can give guidance on how to structure recreational amenities and open spaces.

He also said that urban and regional planning should not be driven by an economic approach but by poverty eradication. Deyalsingh said planners can help to deal with the ills that plague the capital city.