Tourism Minister jumps into Election mood

The ground has been broken for what is called the largest project ever implemented in the history of this nation.

And Chairman of the Board of Directors of VINLEC Douglas Cole has lauded the advantages the Lowman’s Bay site offers. Among them, Cole said, was its ideal proximity to demand, distance from major population centres and access for fuel importation.

Last Thursday 24, the $100 million project officially got started before a gathering of government and other officials, media and VINLEC staff.{{more}}

Addressing the Lowman’s Bay General Expansion Project ceremony, Tourism and Culture Minister, Rene Baptiste, launched into what was clearly campaign mode.

Making the point that the project was located in Buddy Gutter, in the heartland of the constituency she represents, she congratulated VINLEC for carrying out consultations with the residents of the area.

She declared: “The talking is over, the action is now.” Then she launched into a series of boasts of projects present and future. She mentioned the Learning Resource Centre being constructed, the Ottley Hall Playing Field, with “sod to be turned” after consultation; the Largo Heights Playing Field which has been regrassed; the Rose Place Nine Steps refurbishment, the Montrose Tennis Hard Court “to be refurbished with equipment and changing room” and a request from a traditional Christian Steelband for housing. Then she added for good measure that from Buddy Gutter she had received proposals for the construction of housing units.

It was a day for boasts and Senator Julian Francis was equally in form when he said that detractors had predicted that the new management of VINLEC would not last. He pointed to their progress and said that he expected delivery of the project in 58 weeks when he mused, he expected to be back, then as an elected Member of Parliament, for the opening ceremony.