The proposal,
in detail.

A NATION IN BLOOM / VOLUME 1 Executive Brief · Edited website edition · September 2026 1 EXECUTIVE BRIEF A Nation in Bloom Volume 1 — Highway Beautification A national programme to transform priority highway corridors into maintained, living landscapes. Prepared by Narase Boodoosingh, BSc (Agron) — PROLAS Ltd For executive review Edited from the supplied executive brief. Programme proposals and technical specifications remain subject to review and approval.

A NATION IN BLOOM / VOLUME 1 Executive Brief · Edited website edition · September 2026 2 THE PROPOSITION Treat the highway landscape as infrastructure A national programme A Nation in Bloom proposes to transform priority highway corridors in Trinidad and Tobago into maintained landscapes that express national pride, support appropriate biodiversity and improve the everyday journey. The programme begins with highway beautification; a subsequent volume addresses public spaces. The programme Reclaim, Green, Sustain. Three priority corridors connect through the Grand Bazaar Interchange and are subdivided into manageable sections. A published National Highway Landscape Policy would guide design, safety, species selection, signage and maintenance. Clean before planting Clear, drain and prepare each section to an agreed baseline before planting begins. Cleanup is a defined stage with its own acceptance criteria. Demonstrate and learn The brief proposes a 4.8 km Beetham Highway demonstration section, from Barataria Overpass to the St Vincent Jetty Lighthouse. Confirm boundaries and engineering requirements with the responsible authorities before implementation. Publish the standard and share responsibility Define planting locations, clear zones, sightlines, species eligibility, recognition rules and a five-year maintenance obligation. Establish transparent participation routes for qualified professionals, corporate organisations and community groups.

A NATION IN BLOOM / VOLUME 1 Executive Brief · Edited website edition · September 2026 3 THE CASE FOR CHANGE A cared-for corridor is part of national wellbeing The environment of everyday journeys Highway corridors form a visible part of daily life and the visitor experience. Exposed concrete, litter and unmanaged vegetation create opportunities for renewal. Landscape quality should be considered alongside safety, maintenance and environmental stewardship. Shade and the road environment The source brief cites research on relationships between tree shade and pavement condition (McPherson and Muchnick, 2005). Appropriate canopy may offer benefits, but findings from other settings require local assessment. Planting must respect road geometry, visibility and infrastructure. Water and establishment A dependable irrigation strategy is central to plant establishment. Assess suitable supply sources, including non-potable or treated water where appropriate, with WASA and the relevant authorities. Water availability, quality, efficiency and maintenance access should be resolved before planting. Skills and professional care The programme creates opportunities to develop expertise in arboriculture, irrigation maintenance, traffic management, plant health and nursery production. Training and clear responsibilities support consistent care over time. Measure the outcomes Record baseline conditions and assess landscape quality, plant survival, irrigation performance and safety. Environmental and social benefits are proposed outcomes, rather than guaranteed results.

A NATION IN BLOOM / VOLUME 1 Executive Brief · Edited website edition · September 2026 4 THE NETWORK One interchange connects three priority corridors The demonstration section Beetham Highway: Barataria Overpass to the St Vincent Jetty Lighthouse. The source brief proposes an approximately 4.8 km section. Extent, cross-sections and works limits remain subject to confirmation. Corridor 1 - Eastern Gateway Grand Bazaar to Piarco International Airport: a coherent arrival experience and an opportunity to express the natural character of Trinidad and Tobago. Corridor 2 - Central Spine Grand Bazaar to Chaguanas: a priority connection serving journeys into central Trinidad. Corridor 3 - Capital Approach Grand Bazaar to Port of Spain: a maintained gateway on the daily approach to the capital. Why the Beetham is proposed The source identifies the Lighthouse, Beetham landfill and nearby Caroni Swamp as significant features of the wider setting. These adjacencies call for coordinated environmental planning and careful consideration of sensitive areas. Deliver in defined sections The brief proposes sections of one to two kilometres, bounded by recognisable features such as interchanges, overpasses and bridges. This supports phased work, planned traffic management, adoption responsibilities and comparison of maintenance performance. Alignments are indicative, not construction instructions.

A NATION IN BLOOM / VOLUME 1 Executive Brief · Edited website edition · September 2026 5 DELIVERY Reclaim · Green · Sustain 1 / Reclaim Remove debris, litter and dumped material. Clear and inspect drainage. Manage invasive vegetation without burning arisings. Prepare and grade suitable areas, and reconcile utility information. Sign off site readiness before the next stage. 2 / Green Establish appropriate median, shoulder and interchange planting. Consider in-ground planting where suitable and keep shoulder treatment outside required clear zones. Install irrigation before planting. Assess independent frames for vertical greening where engineering conditions permit. 3 / Sustain Provide establishment care through dry seasons; formative and structural pruning; irrigation monitoring and leak detection; and inspection of sightlines and clear zones. The source proposes survival audits at 12, 36 and 60 months. A published planting standard Define suitable planting by road cross-section and site conditions. Narrow medians and ramp conflict areas need particular attention to low-growing treatment and visibility. Wider spaces may accommodate selected trees after assessment. Species, spacing and setbacks require approval by the relevant professionals and road authority. Ecological suitability The source excludes African tulip from its proposed palette and raises concerns about invasive behaviour, bee impacts, brittle branches and roots. Assess all candidate species for local ecological suitability, mature size, root behaviour, litter, water demand and safety. No plant type should be assumed harmless to buried services.

A NATION IN BLOOM / VOLUME 1 Executive Brief · Edited website edition · September 2026 6 PARTNERSHIP A shared framework for lasting stewardship Corporate corridor adoption Organisations may adopt defined sections under a transparent framework, with work undertaken by qualified contractors. Recognition should comply with published signage rules. The source proposes a minimum three-year adoption term, to be reconciled with longer maintenance obligations. Community corridor adoption Community organisations, NGOs, schools and faith groups may support defined activities under supervision, with appropriate training and equipment. Participation beside live traffic must follow road-authority safety requirements. Public oversight Design control, species approval and inspections remain with the responsible authority. Establish written obligations, inspection schedules, performance measures and arrangements for replacement or withdrawal. International experience The source identifies Texas Adopt-a-Highway, California’s Caltrans adoption programme, India’s Green Highways Policy and Barbados’ beautification pilot as examples for further review. Relevant lessons include written maintenance schedules, contractor accreditation, monitored plant survival and support for local landscape enterprises. Open participation The proposed framework should be open to qualified providers. Publish eligibility criteria, landscape standards and adoption records so that the programme operates as a national initiative with clear accountability.

A NATION IN BLOOM / VOLUME 1 Executive Brief · Edited website edition · September 2026 7 THE REQUEST Five decisions for government consideration 1 / Designate a demonstration corridor Consider the proposed Beetham Highway section, confirm its boundaries and deliver it to an agreed standard. Use the demonstration to establish performance evidence and practical lessons before expanding. 2 / Establish a corridor rights framework Define the basis for adopting parts of the highway estate: duration, obligations, landscape standards, recognition and signage, inspections, and arrangements when an adoption ends. 3 / Resolve the water supply Determine suitable irrigation sources with WASA, including the feasibility of non-potable and treated supplies. Address availability, quality, reliability and efficient use. 4 / Direct utility pre-clearance Coordinate infrastructure records from WASA, T&TEC;, TSTT, the National Gas Company and the relevant engineering department. Confirm security-camera sightlines with National Security before excavation or planting. 5 / Establish multi-year maintenance Make establishment care, inspection and replacement a condition of implementation. Set responsibilities and a written programme for watering, weeding, pruning, irrigation checks and survival reviews.

A NATION IN BLOOM / VOLUME 1 Executive Brief · Edited website edition · September 2026 8 THE NATIONAL BENEFIT What the nation can gain For the road environment A maintained landscape, appropriate shade, erosion-management opportunities and a clear standard for third-party works. Benefits depend on site conditions, engineering requirements and continued care. For people and skills More welcoming journeys, a visible expression of civic care, opportunities for community participation and development of a skilled landscape-maintenance sector. For nature Appropriate nectar and larval host planting, attention to sensitive ecological areas, and opportunities for shade and habitat. Environmental objectives should be measured and proportionate to the programme’s actual scale. Evidence and its limits The source cites Branas et al. (PNAS, 2018) on neighbourhood greening, Parsons et al. (1998) on roadside nature and stress, Iungman et al. (The Lancet, 2023) on urban trees and heat, and Hilbert et al. (2019) on tree mortality. These studies concern different settings; they inform the rationale but do not establish the effects of this proposed programme. The commitment that connects everything The benefits depend on established plants and maintained landscapes. Tree-level records, professional care, skills development and suitable nursery stock support delivery. The poui provides a symbol of resilience and renewal: through a shared standard and sustained stewardship, a nation can bloom.