EU gives T&T government $210M for two major projects

The government of Trinidad and Tobago is getting a grant of TT$210 million (24.15M Euros) from the European Union to support the reform, expansion and rationalization of the Non-University Tertiary Education Sector, and for the restructuring of the sugar industry that the Manning PNM government shut down several years ago.

The money for the sugar company is to deal with the social impact of closing Caroni (1975) Limited and help with agricultural diversification using former sugar lands.

Planning Minister Mary King made the announcement on Tuesday, noting that the money for both projects will go to the Finance Ministry, not directly to the two ministries that are responsible for the projects.

Minister of Food Production Vasant Bharath told reporters the state has paid $82 million since 2007 to 3000 former cane farmers as part of the transitional support program.

He said the money is being used this year for several important projects. "We have been able to embark on a major program of irrigation. This year alone we will put down 300 irrigation ponds across the country. This year alone we will put down 250 kilometres of road. This year we will deal with issues of praedial larceny," he said.