DESPERS PAN THEATRE, CRIME AND TRAVEL ADVISORIES

THE latest United States travel advisory about Trinidad and Tobago, issued on August 9, is explicit about no-visit areas. 

“Do not travel to Laventille, Beetham, Sea Lots, Cocorite and the interior of Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain due to crime,” the American authorities told their citizens. 

The advisory further stated that “US government personnel are prohibited from travelling” to those areas. 

In addition, US government personnel are debarred from travelling after dark to downtown Port of Spain, Fort George overlook and all beaches. 

“Gang activity, such as narcotics trafficking, is common,” the advisory stated. 

“A significant portion of violent crime is gang-related.”  

Britain, Canada, European and other nations have, over time, issued similar dire warnings to their respective citizens. 

Yet, at the launch of the $14 million Desperadoes Pan Theatre, Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell touted the facility as a potential foreign exchange earner. 

The pan theatre would “showcase Trinidad and Tobago’s rich culture while generating foreign exchange when tourists visit the capital city,” Mitchell said. 

He added: “It gives tourists, visitors and our locals a chance to immerse themselves deep in the history of the steelpan, witness its creations and lose themselves in the melody.’ 

Mitchell was speaking against the backdrop of a local tourism sector that has crashed, partly as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Domestic tourism to Tobago has also collapsed, and several hotels, guest houses and villas are either temporarily closed or about to do so. 

Hotel occupancy is so low they cannot pay basic bills, proprietors in the hospitality sector have said. 

Trinidad and Tobago’s tourist sector continues to be a minor economic player. 

A total of 480,000 people arrived in 2019, of which 389,000 stayed overnight. 

In contrast, Jamaica welcomed 4.2 million visitors in 2019, double the number of 20 years ago. 

The Jamaican tourism sector directly employs 50,000 workers. 

As with other tourist destinations, arrivals in Jamaica fell dramatically because of Covid-19, but are slowing improving. 

In T&T, tourism remains stalled, and operators and workers are seeing unprecedented difficulty. 

The Minister is depending on the Despers Pan Theatre making a difference.