FOR nearly eight decades, the building that housed the Chinese Association of TT on 7 St Ann’s Road was a vibrant cornerstone of cultural life in Port of Spain.
It was a place where generations gathered to celebrate the rhythms of the Lunar New Year, host weddings, play indoor football, and more recently pickleball.
Inside its wooden walls, the sounds of lion dances, the clamour of family celebrations and the warm scent of Chinese delicacies marked milestones in the lives of countless Trinidadians.
But now, after years of battling deterioration, this historic structure has been torn down, and in its place, a new, modern facility is set to rise — one that is said would serve the evolving needs of its community but at the cost of the memories embedded in its original, iconic form.
The seemingly inevitable decision struck a chord in the broader context of TT’s ongoing struggle with preserving heritage buildings.
Iconic structures across the country have met similar fates, including Greyfriars Church of Scotland in Port of Spain, in 2014, Mille Fleurs, one of the Magnificent Seven buildings around the Queen's Park Savannah, which was left to deteriorate before its eventual restoration in 2020, as well as the President’s House, left derelict for years before it was restored in 2019.
A difficult decision
Colin Mitchell, president of the Chinese Association of TT since September 2023, acknowledged the emotional significance after the demolition of the headquarters but stressed its necessity after consultations with members and stakeholders.
“The decision to demolish the building was made on December 2 by (the association’s) management committee following extensive consultations with members and stakeholders,” Mitchell said in an e-mailed response.
[caption id="attachment_1128059" align="alignnone" width="683"] Colin Mitchell, president of the Chinese Association of TT. -[/caption]
“This decision was driven by the building’s advanced state of deterioration and the need to modernise our property to better serve the community.”
The association has no immediate plans to construct a new building. Instead, it aims to redevelop the site with improved and expanded facilities.
A preliminary budget has been established, funded through membership fees, fund-raising events such as a pickleball tournament and Asian bingo hall, donations from members and corporate sponsors and reserves.
Mitchell affirmed the continued use of the property for community events, cultural ceremonies, sports and fundraisers. “Absolutely,” he said. “Our redevelopment project will be designed to enhance the association’s ability to host community events, fund-raisers, sports, cultural ceremonies, and other activities.”
The association has also completed new commercial spaces on the site, with the Mandarin Mini Mart, a small but popular market for Chinese products, set to expand in 2025.
He said the redevelopment project is expected to take approximately one year from the start of work.
Asked whether more could and should have
