By MIRANDA LAROSE Wednesday, August 8 2012

The final cost for upgrading the illumination of 168 recreational facilities in Trinidad and Tobago will be in the sum of $1.6 million, according to Minister of Public Utilities, Nizam Baksh.

Baksh, who delivered the main address Monday at the turning on of the lights ceremony at the Sir Learie Constantine Park at Macoya, said similar works were underway to illuminate recreational facilities in Diego Martin, Penal, San Fernando, Madras Settlement, Chaguanas and Claxton Bay.

Present at the lighting up ceremony were Minister of Legal Affairs Prakash Ramadhar, and Chairman of Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission, Sushilla Ramkissoon-Mark. The lighting up activity, Baksh said, will boost sports and community activities that would normally be limited to the daytime. It will also help build the social fabric of the community. The illumination of the park, he said might be a drop in the bucket for the kind of work that must be done to develop young athletic talents, and promote sporting activities.

“Though it may be a drop in the bucket,” he said, “it could whet the appetite of our budding athletes.”

Within the past week, he noted, TT athletes were matching skills with the largest nations that have the most sophisticated facilities. Even though TT would have achieved one medal as of Monday, he said, “our representatives have matched the best in the world” with limited facilities.

The works at Macoya were undertaken by AG Mahabir Company Limited, under the supervision of TTEC.

The illumination upgrades, Baksh said, are scheduled for completion in the coming months.