PP blanks PNM’s $233m master plan for Maracas
By Rhonda Krystal Rambally (Guardian).
Maracas Beach is heralded as the gem of Trinidad’s beaches. Hundreds flock there not only to enjoy sun, sand and sea but scenery and the popular bake and shark. But there’s more to the blue skies and crashing waves and the bake and shark stalls. Those who spend most of their days at the beach plying their trade complain bitterly about the poor condition of the facilities and the lack of management by the Tourism Development Company (TDC). Many of them are demanding the authorities begin upgrading the beach.
In 2009, the Patrick Manning-led Cabinet approved a $233 million budget for the Maracas Beach Redesign & Restoration Project. The TDC was given the mandate to manage the project. The Beijing Liujian Construction Corporation won the international tender to provide design and build services for the project. Last year, however, Tourism Minister Stephen Cadiz told another newspaper that the $233 million contract had been terminated.
Cadiz also said the beach upgrade would be completed before this year ends. In October last year at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, he said, “We want Maracas to be a beach and nothing more. “We will scale that project down but provide one thing at the end—a good experience for the beach-goer. “I hope to be able to achieve that in this fiscal year. By October 1, 2013, I guarantee you the Maracas Bay renovation will be completed.”
Cadiz could not be reached for comment as he was out of the country attending the International Tourism Bourse—a leading business-to-business platform for travel and tourism in Berlin, Germany. Newly-appointed TDC chairman Brian Frontin said a joint stakeholders meeting will be held in about a week to discuss upgrade, beach management, clean-up, security and other issues.
Beach not so pristine
This reporter toured the beach two weeks ago and spoke to several vendors who all said they wanted an upgrade. There were no signs of renovations taking place. However, one of the toilet/shower areas seemed refurbished. The shower doors looked new, though in the male and female sections on two out of the four showers there were signs stating, “Out off order” (sic).
Almost every other manhole was broken or open and one area of the carpark had a stench from a pool of stagnant, murky water. Benches were either old and broken or rusty, while garbage bins were not strategically placed. Among those who are at the beach daily are handicraft vendors, chair rental vendors, the guitarist, the “snake man”, security officers, lifeguards and food vendors.
Among some of the problems:
• Clogged showers
• Out-of-order toilets
• Old and rusty benches
• Insufficient benches
• Open manholes on pavement
• Dogs on the beach
• No hand soap or toilet paper
• Poor management of garbage bins
• Falling coconut branches and coconuts
• Insufficient parking
• Stagnant water in carpark area
Bring facility up to international standards
Those who were interviewed spoke under anonymity for fear of victimisation by TDC officials. A vendor said, “Visitors who come here are tourists. They come for the relaxation and the bake and shark. “Some people came (March 4) and telling me the toilet had no soap and toilet paper. “On a busy day there are long lines. People are waiting to use the toilet or to use the showers.”
It costs $1 to use the facilities. Another vendor said, “Things should be put in place for a massive crowd so that things could run smoothly. “Make the facilities big enough and have it clean enough for international use, not just a few people coming here to Maracas Bay.” The vendor also complained about the carpark which, on a busy day, could not accommodate all visitors.
The vendor said Sunday was the busiest day. A man sitting close by intervened. He said only one of the washroom facilities was operational for the Carnival season. Asked about the reasons, the vendor replied instantly, “They are just renovating the washrooms every six months. “Nothing is wrong with the showers but they just going and digging up and doing it over.”
There are four showers and two toilets in the washroom facility on the beach. Not all were functional. There were no shelves to place clothes. “They broke down the benches that used to be there before and put some aluminium frames...nowhere to rest your bag or clothes. Eventually, they put some hooks on the wall after getting several complaints,” the vendor said.
To the back of the facility, the pump storage and tank area was in a deplorable state. The door was broken from the hinges and was rusty. The stench of urine was high. The vendor said visitors who couldn’t wait in line would go behind the facility and relieve themselves. The hand dryer in the female section was rusty and beyond recognition.
PNM masterplan
• Diversion of the North Coast Road, south of the existing carpark to deal with the traffic congestion and to improve pedestrian safety
• Establishment of a higher capacity waste water treatment plant which would be constructed away from the beach and south of the North Coast Road
• Elevation of the carpark to address the flooding issue and an increase in its size to accommodate more cars
• Placement of timber along the length of the beach to reduce sand denudation
• Construction of a timber boardwalk
• Construction of a main pavilion with vending booths and an interpreter area
• Construction of an event area for shows and performances
• Construction of toilets and showers
• Construction of an administration building
• Establishment of a children’s play area, and zoned areas on the eastern and western ends of the beach for sports such as football and volleyball
• Improved drainage facilities
March 2013
