Public Utilities Minister Barry Shiva Padarath visited the Mt. St. Benedict Monastery on Sunday to address chronic electricity supply problems that have plagued the religious compound for two years.
The monastery, established in 1912 and recognized as one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most significant places of worship, has experienced repeated electrical faults and outages due to overgrown vegetation interfering with nearby power lines. The disruptions have significantly impacted the monastery’s daily operations.
During his site visit, Minister Padarath emphasized the government’s commitment to preserving the monastery’s heritage and national importance. “This engagement is driven by genuine respect for the monastery’s significance to our country,” the minister stated, adding that the government is prepared to explore additional ways to support the religious institution beyond resolving the immediate power issues.
Abbot John Pereira welcomed the minister’s intervention, highlighting the monastery’s century-long tradition of welcoming people from all ethnic and religious backgrounds since its founding.
The Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) has begun clearing vegetation from the affected power lines to restore reliable electricity supply to the compound. Minister Padarath and his delegation toured the facility to observe the ongoing remedial work.
The high-level delegation included Minister of Homeland Security and MP for Tunapuna, Roger Alexander, Minister in the Ministry of Public Utilities Clyde Elder, and Parliamentary Secretary Shivanna Sam. T&TEC was represented by Chairman Anil Kamal, General Manager Chrisalston Belle, and Area Manager Kendel Francis.
The monastery’s power supply issues represent a broader infrastructure challenge facing historic and religious sites across the country, where aging utility systems require regular maintenance and upgrades to ensure uninterrupted service.
The government’s intervention signals a renewed focus on supporting religious institutions and preserving sites of national heritage significance. Minister Padarath indicated that discussions would continue regarding additional support measures for the monastery’s long-term preservation and operations.