DECEMBER 1996

First LAPRA Constitution made effe ctive on December 1, 1996, and signatories were:

Premchand Beharry: 617 Link Rd.
Dr. Omar Ali: 597 Ring Rd.
Franklyn Dubay: 483 Circular Dr.
Dr. Rae Furlonge: 539 Brook St.
Kelvin Mahabir: 989 Western Ave.
Robert Sheppard: 315 Paria Ave.
Fatima Sheppard: 315 Paria Ave.
Trevor Bridglalsingh: 436 Circular Dr.
Kesraj Seegobin: 378 Central Ave.
Lennox Awai: 316 Fir Tree Cres.
Raj Bhaggan-Wegner: 707 New Moon Cres.
Winston Chin Sang: 319 Paria Ave.
Maragaret Chin Sang: 319 Paria Ave.
Roland Hosein: 328 Fir Tree Cres.
Frank Hyland: 154 Casuarina Cres.
Kawal Singh: 711 New Moon Cres.
Jomo Wahtuse: 540 Brook St.
Laird Leacock: 914 Caledonia Rd.
Etienne Mendez: 562 Eastern Ave.
Michael Martinez: 615 Link Rd.
Kishore Kissoon: 309 La Clave St.

MARCH 1997

1. LAPRA Sign Board installed at Bandstand, March 1997
2. First Jouvert Band launched under the Banner of LAPRA organized by Roland Hosein and Lennox Madhoosingh. Lennox Madhoosingh wins King of Jouvert.
3. Commencement of Hard Ball at Cricket ground. Chairperson Chris Seecharan.

APRIL 1997

1. Children playground area upgraded.
2. Borough Council commenced cutting of grass at the Paria Promenade arranged by Chris Seecharan.
3. Football Coaching Clinic. Organizer / Coach, Trevor Bridglalsingh.

MAY 1997

1. First 5K Fun Walk/Run Chairperson, Niranjan Bhaggan. It was a grand affair (with internationally recognised stars like Ronnie Holassie et al);
2. Logo Competition 1st Prize $200.
3. Vijay White donates and installs two (2) Monkey Bars at the playground on Paria Promenade.

JUNE 1997

1. Environmental Management Authority Tree planting week. Nineteen (19) trees were planted in the Hollows and Paria Promenade.
2. Mayor of Chaguanas undertakes to have Borough pay for Electricity supplied to the Bandstand and Dusk to Dawn lights.

JULY 1997

1. LAPRA make available grounds East of Bandstand for Boy Scouts Association to hold Chancellor Flag Competition.

AUGUST 1997

1. Start of undertaking by Chaguanas Auto Supplies and Central Agricultural Supplies to maintain greenery at the Bandstand and Children Play ground.

OCTOBER 1997

1. LAPRA Flag received with new logo.
2. Additional lights commissioned at playground on Paria Promenade
3. Installation of additional swings and Monkey Bar at playground.

NOVEMBER 1997

1. Electrified Divali greetings installed at Bandstand. Designed by Roland Hosein.
2. LAPRA caps with logo sold for first time.

DECEMBER 1997

1. Children Xmas party at Bandstand.
2. Parang Band Concert at Bandstand.
3. Evening of Carols at Bandstand.
4. Teenage cook out at Bandstand.
5. Creche installed at Bandstand.
6. Electrified Christmas Greetings installed.

1997

1. Chaguanas Development Plan

At the request of the Minister of Social Development, Mr. Manohar Ramsaran, LAPRA participated in a group comprising business and other interests to create a long term plan of Chaguanas. This was to form the basis of a systematic Chaguanas Development Plan. The request was made at short notice and there was a tight deadline for the delivery of the Development Plan. Bobby Sheppard chaired a series of meetings which included Dr. Rae Furlonge, Kelvin Mahabir and Prem Beharry, and these four prepared the Plan Document. The Minister was quite pleased with the plan, excerpts of which were printed in the newspapers.

1997

LAPRA Logo

Following an invitation to residents to develop a logo for LAPRA, SAGA Studios advertising agency of Port of Spain combined initial design concepts provided by Sacha Beharry and Lavern Smith to create a finished LAPRA logo design at no cost. LAPRA hereby commends Sacha, Lavern and SAGA Studios for their public spiritedness.

1997-1998

LAPRA was instrumental in the removal of the single-lane wooden bridge on Rodney Rd (formerly Montrose Crown Trace), which was originally the rear end of Lange Park, but became its prime access. The new two-lane concrete bridge was built by the Chaguanas Borough Corporation somewhere around 1997-1998 and its design was in form of a hump so as to satisfy drainage requirements. Click Here for Map.

LAPRA was instrumental in the construction of a bridge at the site of the Endeavour Water Haul. Before September 1999, access for Lange Park residents on Rodney Road was via the narrow water haul bridge or via Endeavour Road, and at peak hours either manoeuvre created huge delays and confusion (see diagram below). The new bridge was built by the Chaguanas Borough Corporation and opened in September 1999 (see next diagram, as well as a copy of the invitation and agenda from the Mayor to LAPRA to attend the official opening by the Minister of Local Government). A year later, following LAPRA discussions with the developer for Price Plaza and the relevant Ministry, direct access was made available from Endeavour and Rodney Roads to the Uriah Butler Highway southbound carriageway. Copies of the relevant correspondence have been attached later in this presentation.

APRIL 1998

1. LAPRA assisted the Chaguanas Scouts to stage the 1998 Camporee which took place in early April 1998 within Lange Park. It was a huge success and was well attended. Bobby Sheppard was the Chairman of the implementation committee.

MARCH 1998

1. Largest single donation received by LAPRA from Geogas of Houston U.S.A. Sum of US$2,500 solicited by LAPRA President Prem Beharry for the specific purpose of the enhancement of the Band Stand recreational facilities.

FEBRUARY 1998

1. 2nd. J’ouvert Band launched.
2. Carnival Fete at Woodford Lodge Club.

JANUARY 1998

1. Electrified Eid greetings at Bandstand.
2. Six (6) Garbage collection bins installed on Paria Promenade.
3. Frames for park identification signs are installed at Paria Ave, Western Ave, Eastern Ave and Riverside Drive. The signs themselves are still to be installed.