TriniView.com Staff Article
Event Date: September 26, 2006
On Tuesday 25th September, 2006, the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs in collaboration with the Charlotte Street Heritage Project Committee officially launched the Charlotte Street Heritage Root. This plan was long in coming and finally came to fruition during the Carifesta IX celebrations. Charlotte Street, which is notorious for litter lining the sideways, was visibly cleaner and was a pleasing sight to behold.
In order to undergo the beautification process, the street was blocked off from the corner of Charlotte and Park Street to the corner of Charlotte Street and Independence Square. Because of this clearance of litter and of vehicles, the Charlotte Street Heritage Root ceremony was able to take place on the streets.
Present at the function were representatives from the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs as well as members of the Charlotte Street Heritage Project Committee consisting of prominent business people. Visibly absent though were the street vendors who seemed to have very little or no say in the project and who would be forced (providing that the government goes forward with the Charlotte Street development plan) to either follow the dictates of the government or to relocate their businesses elsewhere.
The formal leg of the launch, which was held at the corner of Charlotte and Park streets, began with the National Anthem on the pan played by Mr. Carlton Harewood and the opening prayer by Brother Anthony Hughes of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
A number of short speeches and well-wishes followed, beginning with Mr. Ron Harford, representative of the Republic Bank of Trinidad and Tobago. He iterated that organizers of this event were civic minded individuals who came together to better Trinidad and Tobago by enriching and cleaning the society and by providing security to the city. He also mentioned that it was his dream and the dream of the Heritage Project Committee to make Charlotte Street the peak bargaining community in the country. This, according to Mr. Harford, is an ongoing project and a first step in improving the country.
Mr. Dennis Fakooray's contribution immediately followed with praises to the hard-working members of the Charlotte Street Heritage Project Committee and in particular, the efforts of Ms. Margaret Thomas and her efforts through which this event was made possible. He also made known that it was no easy task in adding the new street lights to the street. Apparently, according to Mr. Fakooray, over 60 businesses were asked permission to tap their electricity boxes to run electricity to the new street lights. He ended his speech by stating that a modern city must be clean at all times and must be free of crime and that if we save the city, we save the country.
The sentiments of the first two speakers was echoed by Mr. Richard Lau who said that Charlotte Street is best known as the main city of bargain and activity. However, he asserted that Charlotte Street had, over the years, degraded from what it was and that the business people along with ministry are attempting to ensure that things change to its former position.
The Mayor of the City of Port of Spain, Mr. Murchison Brown, in his address intimated that this occasion is evidence of the ministers of government and others putting money where their mouths were. He also marveled at the fact that the ambience of Charlotte Street has already changed and hoped to extend this beautification process throughout the rest of the country. According to Mr. Brown, the idea of people vending on the streets for free can no longer continue and soon a tariff system would be introduced to help with the situation. He went on to state that vendors cannot be allowed to run the city and that the government must once again reclaim the street.
After a brief cultural item of Indian and African dancing and drumming, the feature address was given by the Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, Senator the Honourable, Mrs. Joan Yuille-Williams. She expressed her happiness that the City of Port of Spain was integrated into Carifesta IX in a very significant way and welcomed the members of the Caribbean family to the main town. Charlotte Street, according to Mrs. Yuille-Williams is the springboard of life of the city and the people of the country should feel proud and safe to shop here. She also explained that transformation from the old to the new could be painful to some but would benefit all in the long run. In this regard, and according to the Minister, the Charlotte Street project is destined to touch the lives of the citizens in a very meaningful way.
After the Charlotte Street Heritage Root was officially launched by Mrs. Joan Yuille-Williams, the call to start the procession was done by Mr. Adam Pascall. In celebration of the occasion, the procession, consisting of costumed individuals, ministers of government, members of the Charlotte Street Heritage Project Committee and onlookers of the ceremony marched from the top to the base of Charlotte Street.
Charlotte St. Heritage Root in pictures:
www.triniview.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=96632
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