When Keshorn Walcott won the gold medal in the javelin event at the London Olympics he was promised various gifts by the then government for his accomplishment.
Among the gifts promised to Walcott were the renaming of both his alma mater Toco Secondary School and the Toco Lighthouse in his honour.
These two accolades were meant to give recognition to the village where the Olympic champion was born and raised.
However, almost four years later, Walcott’s name still does not appear on either the school or the lighthouse.
The failure of the People’s Partnership government to abide by their promises to Walcott in this regard was cited by Toco residents as an example of politicians continually “selling dreams” to the community.
The residents said they are tired of unfulfilled promises.
And as a result of this, the residents are sceptical that major infrastructural projects proposed for their community will actually come to fruition.
Among the major projects the People’s National Movement Government, now in power, has signalled its intention to undertake in Toco are the construction of a fast ferry port and a highway from Valencia.
While on the campaign trail for last year’s general election, Dr Keith Rowley promised that his Government, once elected to office, would build a port in Toco to link Trinidad with Tobago as well as an “A-class road” to Toco from Valencia.
Toco is the most northeasterly village in Trinidad and is the closest point to Tobago, which is some 35 kilometres away.
The State-owned National Infrastructure Development Company Limited (Nidco) has already issued a request for proposals for the two projects.
The projects are being done in partnership with the Ministry of Works and Transport.
The idea of construction of a port in Toco has had a long history going back to the 1950s.
It was originally conceived as a port for the fishing industry, as well as a shelter to provide access to the east coast fisheries resources, and an out station for the Coast Guard.
In 2000, then Works and Transport minister Sadiq Baksh proposed the construction of a ferry port valued at US$71 million.
This was, however, eventually shelved after months of agitation by environmentalists.
Last Thursday, a site visit of the proposed fast ferry port in Toco was conducted by hopeful consultants.
“The consultant shall undertake documentation review, preliminary engineering studies, site selection, conceptual designs, cost estimates and preparation of Design-Build tender documents utilising FIDIC yellow book 1999 form of contract for the establishment of a new Port facility and maritime infrastructure. The consultant shall indicate whether any upgrades are needed at Scarborough Port and prepare cost estimates as requested,” the request for proposals from Nidco states.
This comes on the heels of a request for consultancy services for route selection and conceptual designs for the proposed Valencia to Toco highway project in April.
On April 22, a site visit for the proposed route selection and conceptual design of that highway was conducted.
‘They does start hot and sweaty then stop’
With the two major infrastructural projects being proposed for Toco, the Sunday Guardian visited the village to get the views of the residents on the situation.
“To be honest they keep selling us dreams. We keep hearing about all types of projects in the area which start hot and sweaty then are eventually stopped. The Government just keeps teasing our imaginations,” Chris Williams said.
Williams highlighted three projects along the Toco Main Road which should have all been completed by now.
Williams pointed to a sign for a reconstruction programme for bridge B1/19 which started in January 2014.
The duration of the project, which listed Nidco as the executing agency, was estimated at 11 months.
“That project should have been more than done by now and that is just one that started and stopped,” he said.
He highlighted a reconstruction programme for bridge B1/22 which was supposed to have been completed by March as a second project that was started and stalled.
“When we constantly see things like this, work start in a huff and puff and then just stopping, how can I really believe in what is being said,” Williams said.
Fisherman: We seeing
real trouble
One of the proposed sites for the Toco port is the already constructed Toco Fishing Centre.
Fishermen there said they would be happy for a port once they were consulted in the process and their concerns taken into consideration.
“If they thinking about us then it will be better for us because right now we seeing real trouble,” Calvin Bishop said.
Bishop said no renovation work was being done on the facility and things are falling apart.
He said the shutting down of an ice machine last weekend showed that the fishermen were not being treated properly.
But it was Leroy Johnson who questioned whether the Government would keep its promises to the community when it had not kept its promises to Toco’s Olympic Champion.
“We look forward to anything that would make our area better but we have just become so numb to hearing promises and then not having it come to pass. They promised Keshorn that they would name the school and the lighthouse after him. Look, another Olympics has come around and nothing has been done,” Johnson said.
Johnson, however, believes that Walcott will again win Olympic gold and Toco will be put in the spotlight again.
“He is peaking at the right time. He will win the gold and I would not even be surprised if he breaks the world record,” Johnson said.
Walcott was the flag bearer for the T&T team at the opening ceremony of the Olympic games in Brazil on Friday.