Pigeon Point vendors get booths for Great Race

While the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) in Trinidad is in transition while being restructured, Tobago’s URP continues on the job with projects – the latest being a “facelift” for the area leading to Pigeon Point Beach in time for Saturday’s annual Great Race event.

The coastal strip of sandy beach and aquamarine water from the Swallows Beach leading to Pigeon Point has been a location for a number of vendors over the years. They ply their trade from make-shift facilities to showcase variety of arts, crafts, jewellery, hats, garments and local sweets.

The Tobago House of Assembly recently co-opted the URP to build booths for the vendors. A contracting team under Dean Abraham and Lorris Phillips were on the job on Tuesday with work crews, finalising installation of 15 brightly painted, candy-coloured booths. These are expected to be completed in time for the crowds who traditionally head to Pigeon Point after the Great Race event.

Abraham told Guardian Media, “On several occasions, the vendors had built little huts and burger carts along the beach route so the government decided to take the step of giving them better facilities with these booths.

“We’ve built 15 booths, each measuring six by eight for them to ply their trade from. All were built on location at Pigeon Point. We’re trying our best to finish them by Friday to give it out to the vendors in time for the Great Race on Saturday.”

He added, “Vendors will be using the booths for a small fee.”

Thomas Beddoe, a vendor who has been operating from the location for 13 years, welcomed the initiative.

“It’s a good idea – a long time coming, everyone is real glad.”

Another male vendor credited Tobago West MP Joel Sampson’s input.

Saturday’s 56th annual Great Race event is being hosted by the T&T Powerboats Association. TTPA’s Aurora Tardieu said approximately 35 boats of different categories will power off from Chaguaramas at 7 am, “cutting water” across the 90-mile race course to Tobago.