Minister of Housing and the Environment Dr Roodal Moonilal, centre, congratulates newly-appointed chairman of the Chaguaramas Development Authority Daniel Solomon as other members of the board look on, during Friday’s induction ceremony at the ministry’s office, South Quay, Port-of-Spain. Looking on also is CDA chief executive officer Judith Mark.

Newly-appointed chairman of the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) Daniel Solomon says crime is one of the first issues he intends to address. Solomon and seven others received their instruments of appointments from Minister of Housing and the Environment Dr Roodal Moonilal at the ministry’s office, South Quay, Port-of-Spain, on Friday.

Ten people were appointed to the board. Rocky Garcia, who contested the Diego Martin West seat for the Congress of the People in the May 24 general election last year, was appointed deputy chairman. Speaking with reporters after his induction, Solomon said crime was a “big” issue. “Crime is big because they are stealing a lot of the dinghies and tenders from the tourists down there in Chaguaramas,” he said.

“There are many tourists and yachties who visit Chaguaramas and theft has remained a big issue. He said “word was spreading” in the yachting community that people should refrain from visiting Trinidad because of the spiralling crime situation. Solomon said he also intended to address the issue of keeping the environment clean. Meanwhile, Moonilal requested a review and assessment of the CDA. He said the Government was unafraid of being under the microscope as it related to transparency and accountability.

The Members of the New Board - Daniel Solomon, Rocky Garcia, Rawlins Amar, Taran Maharaj, Wahid    Mohammed, Vyas Ramphalie, Christopher    Street, Brian Awai, Richard Grainger, Varan Dabideen