The new Trade Minister says he has plans that will transform this economy and it could include the same opportunities that Carnival brings but it will be all year around.
Meanwhile, one Opposition Senator warned of the impact of the recent job losses at CEPEP on the economy and the crime rate.
00:00In five years' time, Mr. President, I envision that people have to get visas to come here. That's our plan.
00:09The boost of confidence in the Senate on Tuesday by Trade, Industry and Tourism Minister Satya Karma Maraj within his first two months on the job.
00:18Speaking right after Minister Maraj was Opposition Senator Melanie Roberts Rajman.
00:22And you're telling me, we're sitting in this esteemed house and we're saying that in order to spite a handful of alleged PNM contractors,
00:31this government was willing to strip 10,000 vulnerable workers of their employment,
00:37deprive 10,000 families of food on their table, spite the crime rate, and of course, most relevant to today's debate,
00:45shock an already delicate economy by destroying disposable income of 10,000 families.
00:54Minister Maraj spoke about the impact on the economy by the closure of the state-owned oil refinery
00:59by the former PNM-led government before outlining his optimistic plan for future revenue earnings.
01:07But let me tell you, after oil and gas, Mr. President, the next biggest thing we have in this country
01:15is Trinidad Carnival. And I have met, been meeting with a multinational agency.
01:25Because, you know, in Carnival, all the hotels book up next year already.
01:29You can't get price out of the book already. If we can create that same environment, that same opportunity
01:39all year, all year round, oil and gas could be secondary to this economy.
01:47As for the details...
01:49And I cannot, I cannot reveal it. I cannot reveal it as yet. It's still in the formative stages.
01:55But we have a project that is going to be as transformational as the development of the Point Lisa's industrial estate
02:05when I introduce that. We are going to transform this economy beyond oil and gas
02:11with tourism, investment and trade.
02:17Minister Maraj mentioned his bold plan as he also spoke about what he called
02:22the fragmentation of the private sector, as he made reference to the former PNM administration.
02:28Siloed, splintered, and lacking unified representation.
02:35Their collective potential has been emerged.
02:38And neither the previous administration, nor possibly private sector, it seems,
02:43have recognized the economic cost of this division.
02:46In many cases, businesses and investors are not seen as partners in nation building.
02:52But are treated as burdens, or worse, as barriers.
02:57This is not just inefficient, it is unacceptable.
03:01Opposition Senator Roberts-Rajman defended the record of the former PNM-led government.
03:06So let's talk a little bit about our entrepreneurs.
03:09$20,000 grant for young entrepreneurs.
03:12And let's go further with that.
03:16$300 million was allocated to FCB to provide low-interest loans to small and medium businesses.
03:24Loans 100% guaranteed by the government, the then PNM-led government.
03:30The Senate examined the supplementary appropriation of $3.14 billion to the 2025 budget,
03:36which was passed via the government's majority.
Be the first to comment