Arima Borough marks 137 years with thanksgiving service

Scores of congregants packed the Santa Rosa RC Church, Arima, on August 3 to participate in the thanksgiving service celebrating the 137th anniversary of the Royal Chartered Borough of Arima.

Arima Mayor Balliram Maharaj, in addressing the congregation, asked God for his continued mercy and divine guidance over the borough.

“We pray first for the people of Arima, every child, every employee, every student, for the less fortunate, may our borough be a place of peace, security, opportunity, and may love dwell in all our homes, and may we lift each other as neighbours, friends and fellow citizens.”

He prayed that the borough could be one where the community and commerce could work together.

“We ask God to bless our business community, from the large employers to the small vendors in the market. May they be given wisdom in decision making, strength in the challenging times and the desire to give back to the community that supports them. May their hands be blessed, may their efforts be fruitful and may they operate with integrity, generosity and resilience.”

Maharaj prayed for government services in the borough, including the police, municipal police, fire service, hospital and sanitation workers, teachers and all public servants.

“May they all be strengthened in their purpose, renewed in energy, protected in their body and mind, and to carry out their duties.

“As we are lacking in resources and services in Arima, I pray that soon these shortfalls will be addressed to alleviate the troubles we face in Arima.”

He prayed for the employees of the Arima Borough Corporation.

“Guide us and keep us grounded in service and not in status. May we lead by vision and accountability, every project, every policy, every plan, rooted in justice and the betterment of every burgess entrusted in our care.”

Speaking to media after the service, Maharaj said some of the improvements he would like to see included Arima having its own revenue and social welfare offices.

“Arima really needs a pavilion, I heard Indian Prime Minister Modi call the name of Sunil Narine. My dream is to see we put up a pavilion for him.”

Maharaj said he hoped, within a month, to be able to move back into the Arima Town Hall.

He said he was looking forward to making Arima a tourist attraction, with the First Peoples’ Village to be completed in October.

“One will tell you all over the world the most income comes from First Peoples investment. So we have Asa Wright in Arima, we’re now having the First People. We have the Arima Race Club, we are talking to them to revamp it. August was one of the biggest months in Arima, the place to be in Trinidad in August is Arima. We have racing car in Arima, we have car shows in Arima this month. All we want is to get Arima as it used to be.

“All those things is Arima to generate some income apart from oil and gas. We talk diversification only when the oil prices go down, but today we have to do our own thing, our own investments and work together to make it a better place.”

Penny: Arima famous for culture, history

Arima MP Pennelope Beckles said she was proud to have represented Arima since 1992, first as a councillor, then an MP.

“There’s no greater joy than to have the opportunity to serve Arima. The rich history of indigenous people being here and the Catholic Church played a very important role over the years.

"It’s a pleasure to serve a community that continues to recognise the role that indigenous people play, the role of the Catholic Church that they have played all of these years, and the unity that exists among the people.”

Beckles said she agreed with Maharaj that there were many aspects of Arima that would make it an attractive tourism destination.

“Arima is famous for the culture, parang, pan, the indigenous people. Borough Day, those festivities were originally started off in Arima and that has now gone to Point Fortin, San Fernando and many other parts.

“When you talk about the constituency you talk about Blanchisseusse, you talk about Heights of Aripo, that is known for the bat cave and the watercress, Wallerfield that has its own history in terms of the US having a base there and the Tamana eTeck park as well. There is a lot you can learn about Arima, there’s a lot of hiking that takes place, there are several waterfalls that exist once you leave the Blanchisseusse Road.”

She said some programmes she would want to see continue are the Smart City initiative and the work that has been done on improving utilities.

“The truth is Arima has expanded from what it was. You have a lot of new communities that have come in, but as I walk through the borough, you ask people what are their views in terms of the collection of garbage, etc, a lot of work has been done under former public utilities minister Marvin Gonsalves and I know the current government is continuing. We don’t have those kinds of complaints again as it relates to water, as it relates to electricity.

“A lot of communities have improved, on the North Coast, from time to time there are still complaints and of course the Blanchisseuse Road, works continue to be there but there is a lot to be done.”

She said overall, 137 years was a lot to celebrate but there was still a lot to be done.

“We look forward to Arima continuing to build on the foundation, those who were there long before me and to continue with the battle to make Arima what the people of Arima expect.”