Sharma approved $52M for San Juan market, construction resume Monday

Local Government Minister Chandresh Sharma has made an about turn and announced on Wednesday that the government of Trinidad and Tobago will spend $52 million to build a new market in San Juan.

The project was approved by the previous Manning PNM administration but was stopped when the new People's partnership government took office.

Sharma was reluctant to approve the funds for the facility which is in one of the three regions controlled by the opposition People's National Movement (PNM). However, following meetings with stakeholders he concluded that the investment in the market is worthwhile.

Construction is scheduled to resume on Monday on.

"As you know, when we started, there were some concerns but we resolved those concerns in terms of what we are about. We consulted with all the stakeholders as we promised to do," Sharma said.

He added that his permanent secretary Steven Creese will make sure that "we observe all the rules, to make sure we get value for money and to make sure the work will finish in the shortest possible time."