Starting today, the ‘Sunday Express’ goes to constituencies considered to be marginal going into the April 28 general election, the first being San Fernando West.
by Ria Taitt
Political Editor
San Fernando West candidate Faris Al-Rawi says the list of what the PNM has done for that constituency “is massive”.
Al-Rawi, the Minister of Rural Development and Local Government, said San Fernando West has seen unprecedented development over the past years, with multimillion-dollar investments reshaping its economic and social landscape.
“The Government remains committed to enhancing infrastructure, housing, coastal protection and local economic development, making the second city a beacon of progress in Trinidad and Tobago. We have focused on and delivered to the very diverse communities in San Fernando West which incorporates the very underprivileged, the middle class and the very wealthy,” he told the Sunday Express in a phone interview last Wednesday.
MP for San Fernando West: Faris Al-Rawi
“We have built roads, highways, HDC homes, HVIP (Housing and Village Improvement Programme) homes, courts, registries, service centres, and improved developments in 11 HDC communities. We have prepared LSA lands for further development at Bayshore Embacadere, Navet and Upper Hillside. We have focused on crime suppression by developing and bettering communities.
“We have prepared agricultural lands and ports of entry and development. We have fashioned and cemented plans for decades of growth. You could enjoy Skinner Park, you could see an entirely brand new wastewater facility. You could come and get a house in Carlton, you could come to the hospital park,” he said.
Al-Rawi: I never left the field
Asked what he had been doing since the election date was announced earlier this month, Al-Rawi said: “I have been doing what I’ve been doing all along, which is to ‘work the constituency’.
“So, remember we’ve been in there quite a while. As the sitting MP, I have been there for ten years, so I am not introducing myself to the constituency at all. I am more so explaining myself and why I ought to be considered for a third term.
“And in explaining that, I would point out that we have had close to $3 billion in investment in San Fernando West. My constituency, as have others, has faced significantly difficult events like Covid and oil shock prices, but we have done relatively well on these issues.”
Asked when he would be starting to hold public meetings, Al-Rawi said he has never focused on public meetings. He said he has given more attention to being in the field and in the communities.
“When that news came of the dissolution of Parliament, I was on the Marabella train line doing constituency work. I have been working consistently. We have never left the field. I mean, I was there for two general elections and four local elections. So when you look at it, for people who are fresh to campaign, it’s gonna be very different from people who have been in this saddle.
“I am continuing to deliberately engage the constituency in its various parts. I have 11 HDC communities, I have a significant number of squatters, I have the very wealthy, I have the very diverse, and we’ve been at work everywhere, whether it is infrastructural development, HDC housing, Ministry of Works doing improvement, HVIP,” he said.
Some of the major development projects in San Fernando West which Al-Rawi listed were:
1. 3.8 hectares land reclamation; 100% completed.
A transformative $78 million project which saw the reclamation of 3.8 hectares along the San Fernando waterfront was successfully completed. It will prepare the area for the construction of major international hotel brands, such as Hilton and Hyatt—an initiative set to drive economic expansion by attracting tourism, business investments and employment opportunities.
2. Fishing facility; 98% completed.
The development of a modern fishing facility, which began in December 2023, is nearing completion and is expected to be fully operational by April 2025. This facility will enhance the livelihood of local fishermen and boost the seafood industry in San Fernando.
3. Coastal protection
This is moving to the tendering phase. The Ministry of Works and Transport has completed designs for a $67 million coastal-protection project, ensuring the long-term security of the San Fernando waterfront, he said.
4. Lady Hailes Avenue widening; completed at a cost of $136 million.
This, according to Al-Rawi, has significantly improved traffic flow and pedestrian access. This upgrade includes the construction of walkovers for the residents of Embacadere and Ramsaran Street, enhancing safety and connectivity, he said.
5. Squatter relocation and redevelopment; ongoing.
A $43 million investment has been allocated to provide housing solutions and redevelop land for residents displaced due to development projects.
6. PTSC bus yard relocation, housing expansion.
The relocation of the PTSC bus yard has paved the way for a public-private partnership arrangement to introduce new housing stock to the market.
The construction of homes by Karamath Engineering will start in two weeks, as the land was titled last week.
7. Skinner Park upgrade; delivered in 2024.
Skinner Park underwent significant renovations and was handed over to the San Fernando City Corporation in 2024. The upgraded facility is now capable of hosting FIFA U-19 tournaments while remaining a cornerstone for cultural events.
This project was delivered at $160 million and the park is in full use with preparation for a pool and parking at part of the secondary grounds, whilst the volleyball court, etc, are being worked on. This will be met by a walkover to the strip as an anchor for local economic development at Cross Crossing.
8. Plaza San Carlos restoration; ongoing.
The $61 million restoration of Plaza San Carlos (Wharf) is progressing steadily.
9. Bayshore Housing; progressing.
This project will provide quality housing options for residents of San Fernando.
10. PTSC housing site; preparing for construction.
Demolition has been completed, and soil testing is under way to assess contamination levels before construction begins. The $207 million project, led by Hafeez Karamath, will introduce high-rise housing solutions in the area and will launch in two weeks.
11. San Fernando General Hospital car park; completed.
A newly completed $140 million car park, constructed by Kee Chanona, provides approximately 100 additional parking spaces to accommodate the expansion of the waterfront and improve accessibility to the hospital.
12. Hatters panyard; 70% completed.
One of the oldest panyards in San Fernando is undergoing a major transformation. This anchor project, located at the start of the waterfront, will rejuvenate the panyard while preserving its historical significance, Al-Rawi stated.
13. WASA waste water treatment plant; completed.
The completion of this $654 million facility has improved sanitation and environmental conditions in San Fernando. The project also created employment for approximately 200 people from surrounding communities.
14. Carlton Lane Housing Development; near completed.
This will provide approximately 400 affordable homes.
15. Rushworth Street HDC Development; renovated.
Flooring, roofing and other structural elements were replaced and upgraded as part of a comprehensive renovation effort to improve housing quality in this community.
16. Housing and Village Improvement Programme (HVIP)
Benefited 125 families who received start-up homes under the HVIP initiative, with an additional 60 people identified for housing in Bayshore Marabella, Embacadere, Navet, Upper Hillside and Ramsaran Street.
17. Community park upgrades, a new model for green spaces.
Cowie Warner Park has been upgraded as a model park, serving as a template for future park improvements across San Fernando. These modernised spaces promote local economic development and provide recreational opportunities for residents.
18. New Customs facility
Opened, and in operation at the waterfront.
19. Self-Help Grant — Supporting hundreds of families by providing financial assistance for minor home repairs.
20. Community centres
The San Fernando North Community Centre: completed “after years of neglect under the UNC”.
Olera Heights Community Centre commenced at a cost of $30 million; which will be joined by Roy Joseph Community Centre and La Romaine Community Centre.
21. New economic booths
Opened at Embacadere and Bayshore for fishing and community sales.
22. Cluny Family Court; opened.
23. Renovation of Hall of Justice; under way.
24. San Fernando Family and Children Court; completed.
25. Renovation at High Court, San Fernando.
26. Rescoping and restart of Magistrates’ Court, Irving Street.
Al-Rawi said future plans for economic development in the constituency include:
1. Community vertical hydroponics modules—
Installation of 44 hydroponic towers to foster food security and economic empowerment.
2. Community business parks and micro stations.
Establishing 90 business sites in municipal areas and 278 sites in HDC communities which are expected to create over $4.32 million in annual economic activity while supporting 7,000 entrepreneurs and consumers.
3. Static community checkpoints and mobile police posts.
Including the deployment of mobile police stations to improve community security. Each unit will cost approximately $137,000, equipped with surveillance infrastructure.
4. High Street and Harris Promenade redevelopment.
“San Fernando West is experiencing an era of remarkable transformation…through strategic investments in infrastructure, housing, security, and economic development creating opportunities for growth and prosperity. All these projects reaffirm this Government’s commitment to making San Fernando a thriving, modern and sustainable city for generations to come,” he said.