Plan for our Savannah

Gary Voss
Tuesday, October 20th 2009

The capital cities and towns in the countries of the Caribbean have for the most part been allowed to grow and expand over the years with little overall planning or control. As a result, most of them now consist of a motley collection of buildings, old and new, with streets that are too narrow for today's demands, and often choked with traffic. While there are some open squares, there are few large promenades or unbuilt areas, and even fewer urban parks.

The one Caribbean capital, however, that does not fit this pattern is Port of Spain. Partly responsible for this is the city's well laid out grid of wide streets, with alternate one-way traffic flows, but the main difference between Port of Spain and other Caribbean capitals is the Queen's Park Savannah. The city literally revolves around this beautiful park - the focal point of the capital: the lungs, the heart, perhaps even the very soul of Port of Spain.

It would seem to go without saying, therefore, that every single citizen of Trinidad and Tobago would be immensely proud of this beautiful park, and would do everything in their power to maintain and cherish this valuable legacy, so thoughtfully preserved and handed down to us by the forefathers of our city. Sadly, the opposite is true! We are so used to seeing the Savannah there that we have stopped appreciating it. The people of this country just don't recognise the immense value of this magnificent asset, and abuse it at every opportunity. They erect unsightly structures on it, cover large sections of the grass with asphalt, and drive their cars on it with abandon. Anyone who needs a space for a carnival parade, a fete, a religious convention, a funfair or a circus: why, no problem - just do it in the Savannah! O my people, my people, sometimes I despair! Are we really such a bunch of jokey individuals? Are we so short-sighted, so shallow, so ratchifee? Do we have no sense of responsibility, can we never be serious? I don't believe it, I won't believe it : I refuse to believe it... Look, it's time for us all to make a stand on the Savannah. Every single citizen, not just a small group, must join together in a surge of people power to Save Our Savannah, before it is too late, recognising those still true words that we do not own these things, we only hold them in trust for our children. What we have to do is not only stop the rot that has set in, but we have also to reverse the abuses of the past. Here's what we have to do: Firstly, we have to ensure that new legislation is enacted. A new Savannah Park Act must enshrine the status of the former Queen's Park Savannah, to be re-named more appropriately Savannah Park, as a protected part of our National Heritage: a sacred place. It must embody the principle that the only things allowed on Savannah Park are trees, shrubs and grass (also an old cemetery, and perhaps the occasional bench), and the only activities allowed are sports and recreation, both carefully controlled. No buildings, no grandstand, no bleachers, no asphalt, no fetes, no Carnival, no confusion: just a big, beautiful and serene green park, where citizens and visitors alike can go to refresh their minds and calm their senses. An oasis of greenery amid the hustle and bustle of a modern city. With the legislation in place , a major Savannah Park Rehabilitation project must be undertaken. All the existing hideous buildings, including the remains of the grandstand, must be torn down, including their very foundations, all the paving must be ripped out, and the whole area planted with grass and trees. The proposed huge Carnival arts Centre project must be moved elsewhere. The entire Park should be secured by rebuilding the full perimeter railing, and all vehicle entrances sealed. In particular, the whole idea of having an annual Carnival judging point in the Park must be abandoned once and for all, and Carnival returned to where it started: the streets of Port of Spain. At the same time, consideration must be given to the increasing need for car parking around Savannah Park, both for users of the park, as well as the increasing commercial activity in upper Port of Spain, and the opportunity taken to fix this problem too. The answer is glaringly obvious: two large underground car parks (just like those under Hyde Park, in London) - one under the site of the former grandstand at the south side of the Park, and one opposite President's House, which would also serve the zoo, botanical gardens and even Queen's Hall. Incorporated in these underground facilities would be modern, sanitary public toilets, allowing the removal of the existing disgusting structures at surface level. Fees for parking, as well as use of the other facilities could be used to offset the cost of the Rehabilitation Project. In fact, it would probably be viable to structure the whole project similar to the construction of toll roads, where the Government pays nothing, and the successful tenderer finances the project entirely, on the basis of future returns from the user fees. Of course, I can hear you readers saying already: Boy, how naive and idealistic can this guy get! Well, my answer is that our Savannah Park will inevitably be despoiled and destroyed if we the citizens of this country continue to do as we are doing: that is to say, nothing. I insist that we must be able to break this mould: we must get together to mobilise our collective power and say with one loud, strong voice: The only party we will be voting for in the next elections is one which is committed to giving us our Savannah Park Source: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_opinion?id=161546187