Patrick Manning says the poverty rate in Trinidad and Tobago has dropped below 10 per cent.He told supporters in San Fernando over the weekend he arrived at that conclusion based on data from a household budgetary survey and the Central Statistical Office (CSO).
The prime minister and leader of the governing People's National Movement (PNM) noted that Trinidad and Tobago's poverty rate was 45 per cent in 1990 and fell to 16.7 per cent in 2005.
And things have been getting better under his government. "On the basis of information now available to us, already we are able to say that poverty in T&T has fallen below ten per cent; single digit figures,” he said.
Manning said his government's various programs to assist citizens has allowed people to "enjoy a standard of living much higher than their salary allowed".
Manning also announced that if his party is re-elected the government would build an industrial plant in the sea off Otaheite for ship building and repair. The controversial project would involve reclaiming 1,100 hectares of land.
"The opportunity it presents for T&T is to enter into a new industry, an industry of ship repair and building, and therefore from now we have identified that as a direction in which to go," Manning said.
He also spoke of a US$12-billion (TT75.6 billion) state-of-the-art refinery in east Trinidad. It would be like no other in the world, he said.
"A state-of-the-art refinery, a new technology, new concept which will not only use crude oil. but will use natural gas...It takes foresight; it takes commitment; it takes education; it takes an understanding of what you are doing to be able to enunciate policies like that," he declared.
"Those opposed to us don’t have a clue of what they are doing."
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