Prime Minister Patrick Manning on Wednesday outlined to the House of Representatives details of a stimulus package to strengthen economic development in selected Caricom countries. The economic plan will see a cooperation between Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Dominica, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines.He was careful to explain that everything that he is contemplating is in the interest of Trinidad and Tobago and not at the expense of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. He said they would be "complementary to our own domestic requirements...not just economic prosperity in one country as is the case in Trinidad and Tobago today, but economic prosperity in the entire area."
The first such move will be to establish energy links between Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica which would enable Trinidad & Tobago to export gas to Jamaica and import alumina from that country for use in local smelting plants.
He said the plan would offer Jamaica an opportunity to earn substantial foreign exchange while reducing the trade imbalance between the two countries. He added that this energy link was the "dream of Eric Williams and Michael Manley, among others".
Another project would be an aircraft maintenance facility in Grenada for Caribbean Airlines and other regional carriers. He said Grenada is ideally suited for such a venture "where we have one of the longest runways in the Caribbean, which lends itself naturally to an activity of this nature." The government, he said, is studying the feasibility of the project.
Manning said his government is working on developing a similar maintenance facility for ships in St Vincent and the Grenadines, to service Trinidad and Tobago vessels, as well as other vessels. "We have fast-ferry boats in Tobago, we have water taxis, we have military boats that are being bought, and we need access to a ship-maintenance facility," he said.
He said St Vincent has a "very small" facility, which provides the opportunity "to expand the size considerably, giving St Vincent and the Grenadians a new area for economic development and, therefore, significant revenue earnings".
Manning's fourth regional initiative involves investing in quarrying facilities in Dominica to supply aggregate for Trinidad and Tobago that's needed for "the accelerated infrastructure development and specifically its highway construction, which starts next year."
He said the domestic demand for aggregate would outstrip the local supply and therefore the plan is to stop importing aggregate from countries like Canada and invest in the region. "One opportunity that, therefore, presents itself could be, in collaboration with an efficient quarry operator, to invest in quarrying facilities in Dominica and, therefore, give that country a new area for economic growth and development and job creation," Manning said.
Manning said Trinidad and Tobago would continue to examine the regional situation to determine areas in which its intervention could improve the lives of Caribbean peoples and the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.
He reiterated that it is in Trinidad and Tobago's interest to assist the region to develop economic activity. "To avoid the introduction of undesirable activities in the Caribbean, it is clear that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has to act and act as decisively as we can," he said.
Manning made that argument on Sunday when he addressed a special convention of his People's National Movement.
Read the story: Manning committed to...regional economic union
Related story: Opposition condemns Manning's "psychological blackmail."
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