General T&T

Establishment of the North Caroni Growth Pole

By Stephen Kangal
September 07, 2014

Stephen KangalThere would appear to exist in the North Caroni Area the basic building blocks including the most important that of unused land -space that can serve as the requisite triggers to launch the North Caroni Growth Pole as an aspect of regional development geared to spur growth in the domestic economy and employment.

The area identified is with the following boundaries:

  1. The South Bank of the Caroni River on the north
  2. The Butler Highway on the West
  3. Munroe Road North on the South along the SMR to Chin Chin Junction
  4. Madras Road on the East

The following infrastructure is already in place:

  • The Frederick Settlement E-Teck Park to be expanded utilizing the lands of the Caroni Race Track with piling for a large building in place and a well-consolidated track area suitable for buildings.
  • The building of the Caroni Highway to the Airport and potential link with the Butler Highway and Warren Road via the Caroni Rice Project.
  • The commissioning of the moth-balled NP Fuel Depot
  • Recreation Ground and Sites including the Bird Sanctuary
  • The Ministry of Transport/Motor Vehicle Authority Facility/ former Caroni rum distillery
  • Rice Fields both rain- fed and irrigated.
  • Elevated Location not subject to Flooding but with a proven flood alleviation embankment on the north bank of the Caroni River
  • The Munroe Road Business Centre
  • The Warren Road Agricultural Zone with irrigation facilities
  • Ownership of Ex-Caroni Workers Two-Acre Plots available for integration into agro- business
  • Well established drainage systems
  • Two police stations
  • Space for residential expansion
  • Proximity to the Freeman Road Development/UWI.
  • Two Secondary Schools
  • Lands of the former sugar farmers waiting for diversification
  • Land reclamation west of the Butler Highway from Wyma to Sanctuary.
  • The abandoned Wilderness Estate HDC Housing Settlement south of Upper Warren Road.
  • Aqua culture potential
  • Availability of the NGC Gas Line
  • Idle capital lying in the Banks looking for investments

There is a need for the Ministry of Planning and Sustainable Development to explore the feasibility of the establishment of the North Caroni Growth Pole because of the space for the introduction of new industries.