Local Government Minister Hazel Manning, left, and Chaguanas Mayor SurujRambachan, right listen attentively as Roger Bolai shows them plans for development in the borough.

By Adrian Boodan

Poultry depot operators could come in for some pressure if they don’t get their act together, says Local Government Minister Hazel Manning.

She was at the time delivering the feature address at a stakeholder consultation held to develop a town plan for Chaguanas last Tuesday at Gaston Courts, Lange Park.

Manning said her ministry is partnering with the Ministry of Agriculture to develop strategies to address any shortcomings that “plague” the poultry sector at this time.

She said the public health inspectorate has a pivotal role in monitoring pluck shops to ensure that Bird Flu does not hit T&T. She said: “The threat of Avian Influenza is quite real and has already been detected in the Caribbean region. Although T&T is, at present, in the clear, every effort must be made to preserve that position. Our public health inspectors are also instrumental in the approval process for the construction of new pluck shops. It is their duty to ensure that local planning, zoning and other key requirements are adhered to.”

Manning also challenged regional bodies to inform members of the public of the dates of their statutory meetings and to invite the public to participate in discussions.

Manning said the Chaguanas Borough Corporation may even consider broadcasting its statutory meetings to the wider national audience thorough the ministry's weekly radio programmes.

Manning said planning was the key to supporting T&T’s rapid population growth. She said central government, through regional bodies, would act as chief implementers to adequately satisfy the transportation, recreation, communication commercial, health and other critical needs of burgesses.

Manning said her ministry had already established a local area regional planning and development unit to design a local area and regional development plan for 14 municipal corporations beginning with the Sangre Grande, San Juan/Laventille and Mayaro/Rio Claro regional corporations.

Manning said the regional plans would be done within a structured policy framework which draws upon the recommendations of the National Physical Development Plan, the Vision 2020 Draft National Strategic Plan and the National Spatial Strategy.

Manning said a draft policy for municipal waste management would be approved by the Cabinet. She said this policy document is intended to address sustainable solid waste management, landfill operations, methods of garbage disposal with emphasis on eparation, reuse and recycling.

Chaguanas Mayor Suruj Rambachan said Chaguanas' rapid economic and housing growth has created shortfalls and put pressure on the area’s existing social services. Rambachan said this must be addressed if the borough is to move forward smoothly. Rambachan said he envisioned a new Chaguanas emerging to become the center of trade and commerce that would rival the city of Port-of-Spain.

Rambachan said the Chaguanas Market should be relocated to a new 30-acre site west of its present location on land that was once used as a cane field. Rambachan said this facility would provide all the amenities. He said the old market building could be transformed into a centre for Government administration activities.