As the city celebrated its 110th anniversary yesterday, one city resident, who identified herself only as Monica, said she wants the roads paved, sidewalks built and better lighting.
Speaking with Guardian Media after recording the procession along Abercromby Street, Monica said after witnessing some progress, she wants those three things addressed.
While Monica expressed concerns over road conditions, one sno cone vendor questioned the scale of the celebrations, recalling past years with music trucks and a Carnival-like atmosphere. He said usually, by midday he would have been sold out during such a parade.
In his remarks, Port-of-Spain Mayor Chinua Alleyne said road and footpath rehabilitation projects have been ongoing and began in the busier areas and will continue.
Speaking at the All Saints Anglican Church, Queen’s Park West for an interfaith service, Alleyne said his council had established several initiatives for a more “liveable city.”
He said, “We have taken a close look at our arrangements for solid waste collection and have made significant investments in our fleet, in order to improve our service delivery.”
He added that the city is also in talks with other government agencies to bring recycling initiatives to fruition.
Anglican Bishop to T&T Reverend Claude Berkley encouraged the council to put God first in their decision-making. He said righteousness is what would exalt the city.
During the interfaith service, Pundit Ganesh Maharaj reminded the congregation that chaos was one of the worst things that could happen to a people. He said the city was the seat of justice and a port to exchange energies and people. He encouraged the people to wake up and take care of each other, beginning in the capital.
Imam Jaffari Saleem reminded the council that they should serve their brothers and sisters both in faith and humanity. Both Pastor Leslie Moses and Archbishop Patrick Brown prayed for a safer city, while Father Martin Sirju emphasised the importance of cities within the three major faiths, Ayodhya for Hindus, Mecca for Islam and Jerusalem for Christians.
At the end of the church service, which was attended to by Local Government Minister Faris Al-Rawi, Port-of-Spain North/St Ann’s West MP Stuart Young, Deputy House Speaker Esmond Forde and Minister of Youth Development and National Service Foster Cummings, there was a military procession along the streets of Port-of-Spain, followed by a motorcade of the City Council’s fleet.