Tobago East now has another well-lit playing field after a High Mast LED Lighting system was installed and commissioned at the Louis D’or Recreation Ground on Wednesday.
Speaking at the commissioning, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine noted that the THA is ensuring that there is an even flow of resources on the island.
He urged residents to produce positive results from the over $3 million infrastructure investment by making full use of the space.
“That is $3 million invested to ensure that small communities like Louis D’or will feel like people too, will feel like people who have access too, will feel as though you have something worth fighting for in Louis D’or.”
President of the Louis D’or Village Council Andy Williams said it has been decades that the community has been clamouring for a lit playing field. He expressed confidence that the community’s play park will also receive attention soon.
“This community was established in 1955. Now we are in 2025, this is 70 years and this recreation ground would have been one of the older grounds on the island and it has taken us 70 years to see this historic moment of the ground being lit and I want to say thank you once again to all who would have been instrumental in making this possible.”
In the same vein, Area Representative Watson Duke expressed gratitude for the delivery of this project. He said it has brought joy to the community and urged the Executive Council to continue to consider Louis D’or’s additional needs.
“The young men in the district who have been playing and have to cut off football at sunset, they say thank you. For those who are up and coming and know their future look bright because of the lights, they say thank you. For the senior citizens who would like to come out and just hang out in the evening and perhaps have a family reunion that goes way into the night, they say thank you. They also advise me to tell you to keep the same energy. The same energy you had with the lights, keep it in dealing with the land matters.”
Meanwhile, Secretary of Community Development Wane Clarke lamented that the THA has been dealing with matters of vandalism at public centres and urged villagers to work together to care for the new lighting fixtures.
“All of us need to understand we are stakeholders and we have to band together for the longevity of this, the lights or whatever comes your way. Let us not try to be destructive to the progressiveness that comes our way. Let us embrace it.”
Assistant Secretary of Settlements Orlando Kerr also noted that the project called for extensive work to execute, however, he advocated for its completion.
According to the Division, the lighting infrastructure includes energy-saving capabilities, retractable towers and an expected lifespan of almost 20 years.