Devant gets to work, says central airport and fast ferry are top priorities

Transport Minister Devant Maharaj moved into his new office at Nicholas Towers on Independence Square Port-of-Spain Tuesday, two weeks after his elevation from Chairman of the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) to the cabinet.

He will occupy offices formerly used by Colin Partap, who is now a minister in the national security ministry. 

Speaking with reporters on his first day on the job, Maharaj said the priorities are the airport project in central Trinidad announced in May by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the regional fast ferry service, which the PM spoke about at the recent CARICOM summit in St Kitts.

The central airport will be located at Camden airfield which is currently used as a heliport. It has the basic airport infrastructure including a reliable runway which was used by the former Caroni (1975) limited as its base for aerial crop dusting operations. 

The fast ferry would link Trinidad and Tobago with the eastern Caribbean states of CARICOM.

Maharaj said he intends to build on the work he started at the PTSC to "ensure the public has access to efficient, reliable and affordable public transport in all corners of T&T."

Maharaj told reporters there is no need for citizens to be worried about the Government, which he said is in "good hands". He said citizens should see the realignment of ministries as a positive development.