With the newly renovated Skinner Park set to reopen on February 4, San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello is hoping to collect on millions of dollars in rental fees owed by the National Carnival Commission (NCC) and the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation (TUCO).
Speaking to reporters at the San Fernando City Corporation following the council’s first statutory meeting for the year yesterday, Regrello said the facility is already booked for three main Carnival events, including the Calypso Fiesta, National Chutney Soca Monarch finals and the National Stickfighting Competition.
However, he said, “I hope that TUCO and NCC will pay the outstanding bills that they have for us for Skinner Park over the years. We are yet to receive rental fees for Skinner Park, because at the end of the day, our responsibility to do the engineering aspect, the physical infrastructure, the sanitation, the plumbing, the electrical, that bill stays with us. So, it cannot be goodwill as it was in the past.”
Unable to give the exact figure, he said, “It would be seven digits...I’ll have to look at the past 15 years or so and add it up…They haven’t paid us.”
Saying a lot of state funds were spent on the renovations, he said they have look at a proper business plan for the management of Skinner Park, which closed in 2019 for renovations.
Attempts by Guardian Media to contact NCC chairman Winston “Gypsy” Peters and TUCO president Ainsley King yesterday for a response to the mayor’s claims were unsuccessful.
Regrello said they also have plans to upgrade the second grounds at Skinner Park.
Clearing up any confusion regarding the Carnival route, he said they would be using the traditional route from Royal Road, to Coffee Street, Cipero Street, then Rienzi Kirton, Independence Avenue, then Sutton Street, Mucurapo Street, Harris Promenade, Chancery Lane and and High Street.
He also took issue with the NCC’s allocation of $400,000 in previous years for San Fernando mas. He said they are hoping to get $3 million. “The paucity of the offer is always almost unacceptable to San Fernando when you look at what is happening elsewhere. This is a second city and we are looking at the diaspora. There seems to be a consciousness for coming back home, as has occurred in Point Fortin over the years, how Point Fortin developed for their festival. There’s a strong diaspora development for San Fernando abroad,” he explained.
He noted, however, that there has been an upsurge in J’Ouvert bands over the years and this year, 36 bands have registered.
“I think we have the biggest J’Ouvert in Trinidad. Tobago has its own Carnival now.”
He assured that the public health department would be engaging in ongoing discussions with bands to ensure the safety of masqueraders and spectators, especially with COVID-19.
Giving an update on security measures at Paradise Cemetery, following the desecration of Dr Leroy “Black Stalin” Calliste’s grave, he said, “We have purchased locks. Every entrance point at the cemetery will be locked, police will be doing regular checking, required surveillance and of cameras will be installed.”
He said they did not have such an issue at Roodal Cemetery, but they will still provide security there. However, he said the Social Development Ministry and other stakeholders will soon meet to address the street dweller population.