Amerindian Village, Doubles pavilion part of heritage tourism development: Griffith

Amerindian 'ajoupa', part of the heritage of the original people of Trinidad & Tobago

An Amerindian Village in Arima and a doubles pavilion in Debe are part of plans by the tourism ministry's development of heritage sites.

Minister of Tourism Rupert Griffith provided the details Thursday at the post cabinet media briefing.

Griffth explained that the ongoing project also includes changes to Ariapita Avenue, Port-of-Spain to improve the areas reputation as a tourism centre.

Griffith said Cabinet has approved several domestic tourism projects, including the doubles pavilion plan that would take up an entire block with spaces to add eight more vendors to those already selling their products in the area.

The minister said the area could be a "tourism hotspot" since doubles is now recognised globally as part of the indigenous cuisine of Trinidad & Tobago.

With respect to the Ariapita Avenue project, he said he has held talks with the Port-of-Spain City Corporation, business people, residents of the community and other stakeholders. The plan involves diversion of traffic from the area and the establishment of kiosks, new signage, additional green space and and food courts.

The Amerindian Village will cost $1.9 million. The location is a 25 acre site on Blanchisseuse Road. Griffith said the Santa Rosa Carib community is assisting with the project.

All these, he said, are part of the country's heritage tourism thrust, which includes the redeveloped Knollys’ Tunnel in Tabaquite. Other heritage projects include a $4 million plan for central Trinidad to incorporate the Lion House in Chaguanas, the Indo-Caribbean Museum in Waterloo and the Temple in the Sea.

The ministry plans to invest $5 million to upgrade the Las Cuevas beach facility and another $5 million upgrade for Vessigny beach and enhancing the La Brea pitch lake project. There are also plans to upgrade Los Iros, Quinam and Columbus Bay beaches, Griffith said said.