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Revamped Rain-O-Rama Newsday News, Tuesday, April 24th, 2007 |
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Lord Kitchener's Rain-O-Rama is being renovated to the tune of more than one million dollars. The Grand Master's Diego Martin palace, which was built in the early 1970s on prime land valued at $50,000 at the time, is currently being restructured into a cultural centre for the arts. Kitchener's commonlaw wife, Valerie Greene, said she is doing all in her power to keep the Grand Master's legacy alive. The Rain-O-Rama project, which began a year ago, is set to utilise a portion behind two and a half acres of land to house state-of-the-art technology equipment and architectural finishes, complete with a calypso walk of fame star, much like the Hollywood walk of fame, and will feature engraved names of calypso veterans who have contributed to Trinidad and Tobago's culture. The cultural centre features high-end stone work accents, including a pool and jacuzzi, fountains with rocks incorporated into stone walls and miniature steel pans embedded in waterfalls with exquisite craftsmanship. Greene said it is costly to build the centre, but she is dedicated to seeing the project it accomplished. "We are not getting assistance from the government, but the work has to go on," she said. Greene said there is no completion date set. "We are working on our own time. We are doing little by little," she said. A few years ago, a museum was started for the public to access information about the career of the Grandmaster, but it has yet to be completed. The Ministry of Culture and the National Museum recently pledged their support. We have approached the government for assistance with the museum. A curator is currently putting finishing touches to complete it," Greene said. Errol Peru, Kitchener's former manager, said there continues to be a lack of respect for people who have greatly contributed to culture in Trinidad and Tobago. "Elvis Presley has a museum, Bob Marley has a museum, but our icons have nothing," he said. Greene, who is currently in a legal battle for the Rain-O-Rama's ownership, said nothing will stop her from honouring "Kitch." "I believe in God. I'm not letting anybody stop me. I know it is my responsibility to see that Kitchener's legacy lives on. Nothing will keep me from honouring him," she said. The cultural centre will be 100 percent dedicated to Kitchener and, according to Greene, each portion of the centre will be named after his life's work. "We will have a section called the mystery band area, we will have a Rain-O-Rama area and other areas dedicated to Kitch," she said. |