World's Ugliest Lighthouse!

(Photo (C) The Trinidad Guardian)

"What have they done?" It was all I could utter upon coming into Port of Spain and having my first look at one of our oldest and most popular National Monuments. The second thing I uttered when I regained my ability to speak was "are they out of their minds?"

Early last year (March 2005) I wrote a letter to Berger expressing my concern over the shabby state that the Port of Spain Lighthouse was in. When I saw the scaffolding going up at the end of the year I was pleased that the 'powers that be" were finally going to remedy the situation. Imagine my disappointment upon seeing the results of the 'restoration' work. If there is any distinction we have gained,it is as the owners of the "World's Ugliest Lighthouse". It looks like a CPEP pebble painting project gone wild!

Is this supposed to be a 'gift' to the Nation? If it is..then please take it back! So far everyone I have spoken to has the same opinion of it..they are horrified! Our beloved Lighthouse has been turned into nothing more than an ugly billboard and a national eyesore.

Yes, we love the Soca Warriors and are proud of their achievements, but isn't there a better way to honour them than painting a historic monument like a gaudy candy cane? What next? Shall we be repainting the Red House in a similar fashion? Or what about White Hall?How can anyone consider this to be anything but sacrilege?
Was anyone consulted upon the start of this project? Historians, Conservationists..the general public who has to live with this?? Nearly two hundred years of history obliterated by the swipe of a paintbrush!

Please Berger, give us back our Lighthouse in a more historically correct form and spare us the agony of seeing the monster you have created. The traffic is enough to put up with without the added strain on the eye!

(just adding this here because he wanted me to: "Hi Shane! Goodnight! Go to bed it is late!")