The lookout at Belmont, which offers a panoramic view of the Mesopotamia valley,  was officially opened last Thursday, April 23.  It is the first of fourteen sites to be completed under the Tourism Development Project.

The project, estimated at a cost of just over EC$300,000 was completed last month, and according to Andrew Wilson, Director of the National Parks, Rivers and Beaches Authority (NPRBA), was completed ahead of schedule.

The site comprises a 900 square foot platform, washroom and parking facilities, and according to Wilson, it will be managed for use by both tourists and locals.  It will be managed jointly by the NPRBA and the Belmont Education Community and Development Organization (BEDCO).
“And as such, there are direct socio-economic benefits to be derived for such communities where similar projects are located,” Wilson said.

Cecil Jack of BEDCO told THE VINCENTIAN that the organization is fairly young, having been formed a matter of months ago.

He spoke of the benefits to be derived from the community’s direct involvement in the project.
“We see how important it is,” Jack said.

One such benefit was that two persons from the community would be employed at the site.  These persons, according to Jack, are qualified persons who have been unemployed for a period of time.

He also mentioned the possibility of on the job training for such persons, as he explained persons working on the site needed to be  ‘jacks of all trades’.

Given the open nature of the site, an entrance fee will not be affixed to its use. Instead, Jack said, the hope is that over time, a booth managed and run by the community based group will be set up to offer visitors ‘something local, thereby generating some economic activity.

The area of the site has been a regular stop along the prescribed scenic ‘tourist drive’conducted by taxi and tour bus operators, especially for cruise ship visitors.

source of article and photo:
by Dayle Dasilva
2009/04/29
The Vincentian Newspaper
www.thevincentian.com