Minister of Works and Infrastructure, Jearlean John on Thursday unveiled the Trinidad and Tobago Revitalisation Blueprint, an ambitious national development plan aimed at reshaping communities, strengthening the economy, and redefining the country’s future growth.
Speaking at the launch of Phase II of the National Recruitment Drive, Persad-Bissessar described the initiative as “a vision for a better, brighter, more prosperous future”, one that extends beyond physical infrastructure to the social and cultural fabric of the nation.
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“For every great project, there must be a blueprint, a clear plan, and above all, a vision,” she said. “We are building not just with concrete and steel, but with care, creativity, and conviction.”
The Prime Minister emphasized that the revitalisation strategy was designed to benefit all citizens by generating jobs, supporting local businesses, and inspiring younger generations to take part in rebuilding their communities.
Minister of Works and Infrastructure, Jearlean John unveiled an ambitious plan to transform the nation’s justice system and repurpose several of its historic prison facilities into centers of innovation, culture, and tourism. She said a key element of the plan involves the consolidation of justice, a major initiative that brings multiple correctional and legal facilities under one unified campus.
“We start with what we call the consolidation of justice,” she explained. “Carrera Prison Island spans 25 acres. The Frederick Street Prison, fondly called Dem Boys Jail by the Mighty Shadow, and Golden Grove together cover nearly 270 acres. We are consolidating these into a major facility where we will truly have justice on time. This will be our Tamana Prison Campus, sitting on 500 acres.”
The Tamana Centre for Justice, as it will be called, is envisioned as a modern, centralized complex designed to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver fairer, faster justice to citizens. According to Persad-Bissessar, the consolidation will save the government up to 40 percent of current costs, an estimated TT$60 million annually, by housing correctional services within a single integrated system.
With the consolidation of the prison system, the Prime Minister announced that existing facilities will be repurposed for public and commercial use, signaling a new approach to national redevelopment rooted in sustainability, creativity, and economic opportunity.
One of the most transformative proposals is the conversion of Carrera Island Prison into a resort destination. The 25-acre island, long known as a site of confinement, will be reborn as “Isla Carrera Resort,” a 75-room boutique hotel featuring full amenities.
The iconic Frederick Street Prison in Port of Spain, immortalized in calypso legend as Dem Boys Jail, will also undergo a dramatic transformation. Plans call for the historic structure to become an arts and events complex, creating space for exhibitions, performances, and education.
We are suggesting that it be repurposed into an exhibition and event hall where even young artists can go and rent a space. It’s a classroom and studio, it’s a teacher and workshop, conference facility, rooftop restaurant.
Meanwhile, the Golden Grove Prison in Arouca will be redeveloped into residential housing, further expanding access to affordable homes while preserving the site’s historical significance.
John emphasized that the redevelopment of these prison sites represents more than infrastructure change, it’s a philosophical shift toward national renewal and collective progress.
“We are not just closing old facilities,” she said. “We are transforming them into spaces of opportunity, turning walls that once held people back into gateways for creativity, education, and growth.”
With the Tamana Centre for Justice serving as the anchor of this transformation, Trinidad and Tobago’s government is setting a precedent in the Caribbean—where redevelopment is not just about rebuilding, but about reimagining how spaces serve people and communities.
