PM Kamla to make Naparima Bowl a heritage site

The amphitheatre of Naparima Bowl

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has changed her mind about the future use of the Naparima Bowl in San Fernando.

She said on Tuesday that she intends to make the Bowl a heritage site.

Earlier this year Persad-Bissessar announced that the Bowl would be a venue for training medics and that it would be transferred to the South West Regional Health Authority.

Her plan was to use the the newly-constructed Southern Academy of the Performing Arts for cultural events that would normally be held at the Bowl.

However, shortly after that announcement a strong lobby developed online and in Trinidad for the Bowl to be retained as a place for cultural events

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister put the matter to rest.

"Whilst there's been a controversy with respect to the use of the Naparima Bowl, I want to make it very clear that the Naparima Bowl will continue to be used as it was, for its original function, as a cultural centre in the south," she said.

"I say further that as we move towards the celebrations of 50 years of independence that I intend to propose that the Naparima Bowl be treated as a heritage site in Trinidad and Tobago."