What started off as the clearing of a bushy area, turned into the installation of an “I Love Mon Repos” sign, leading to several local and foreign visitors.
The project began on the first Saturday in January as councillor for Mon Repos/Navet Nigel Couttier and a volunteer team embarked on the cleaning and beautification of an unkempt area. It continued every Saturday from as early as 5.30 a.m. to around 10 a.m. with about ten people.
Participation grew as residents from the Mon Repos buildings, located opposite the site, came on board. So did a landscaper from Pleasantville. “Since it’s a community project, he said he loved giving back and he joined with us for free,” Couttier explained.
As the clearing and cleaning continued at the space located near the Mon Repos Police Station, along the Naparima/Mayaro Road, Couttier said: “I look at the place and I say, hmmm, what would look good here? It missing something.”
He said the thought of his love for Mon Repos came to mind and the idea of the sign was born. “Contact was made with a person with the expertise and the sign was made and erected. The sign was really at no cost, more or less,” Couttier said.
Donations from residents and others who committed to the project also came in the form of backfill, plants, paint and two fountains. About a month ago, volunteers spent an entire night planting lawn grass.
The proud councillor said the transition has helped return a sense of pride to the area to uplift the community. Couttier also feels a sense of accomplishment over “what you can do if you really put your mind to improve the community”.
And while there are “I love” signs displayed in other parts of Trinidad and Tobago, Mon Repos is the first in the southland. Not wanting to duplicate the other signs, Couttier opted to have a solid red-coloured heart.
Since the beautification of the area, there have been daily visits by people from across the country and from abroad.
“Up to last week Saturday, there was a busload of tourists who visited that location and it was really amazing. And people have been coming from all over and taking photos. It’s amazing for us. We really like what is taking place in the community and that’s the whole thought process behind it.”
He said though funding may be an issue, the project will continue with the fixing of the benches and a concrete area.
Couttier further said that he was not concerned about vandalism to the area, adding: “When you do something from the goodness of your heart, you leave everything up to God.”
A resident from the area was in high praise of the project, saying it has been encouraging socialisation among the youths from the area. “It is a fresh project… and it looking good and feeling good and we enjoying it,” he said.
Couttier is aiming to complete the initiative by the end of the month and the hosting of an official opening of the beautified space.
