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  • 4 months ago
The Planning and Economic Affairs Minister tells the private sector that a medical cannibis industry is part of the Government's plans to diversify this country's crude oil and natural gas based economy.

He also spoke about his plans for life after Cabinet term and his desire to see his children return and live in this country.

Juhel Browne reports.
Transcript
00:00During the Business Outlook 2025 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port of Spain,
00:05Planning, Economic Affairs and Development Minister Dr. Kennedy Sawat Singh
00:09made reference to a particular kind of dessert and an area of agriculture
00:13yet to be formally established in Trinidad and Tobago
00:16as he spoke about the new government's plans for economic diversification.
00:21One of the things that the manifesto speaks to as well is the cannabis industry.
00:26And there are ways in which we can create, I shouldn't be saying that in a room like this
00:34because many of you might need a good bronc knee or so, but
00:41so are here.
00:53Being a former religious person is not something I partake of.
00:56And confession is still not, I'm not in long in that business, so please don't rush.
01:03An apparent reference to his past career as a Roman Catholic priest
01:06as the minister sought to emphasize his point.
01:09I mean, for far too long we have had a large informal economy
01:14that has not been able to, we have not been, we have not found ways
01:17to effectively bring it into the formal economy.
01:20And so some of those things will help to do that.
01:23The planning minister said there are other ways that Trinidad and Tobago can diversify
01:27its mainly oil and natural gas based economy.
01:31There are some real areas of growth, not just in cannabis and so on, and medical marijuana.
01:35We built an airport in Tobago that can do a throughput of 3 million people.
01:41And anybody who have worked in the tourism sector would know that if you have an airport
01:45the size of 3 million people, that the commercial value of that airport could only be realized
01:49if you have about, probably about 2,000 to 3,000 hotel rooms.
01:53So we have to invest in tourism.
01:56Minister Surat Singh also said the new government is also focused on improving ease of doing business
02:01as he made reference to the years he spent living and working in Barbados.
02:07This silo approach to how we do work in Trinidad and Tobago, that has to stop.
02:11We have to put aside all of those things and start to understand
02:14that if we have to give this space to your children and my children,
02:18and I have two wonderful bills that I want to come back, some still in Trinidad and Tobago.
02:23Although I was just telling, when I finish this, I'm going back to Barbados,
02:27you know, after this five years.
02:35But I still want my children to have the option to come to Trinidad and live.
02:40The planning minister told the local private sector that the new government has an open-door policy.
02:44So I'm here to say to you today that I am, I will make myself available to you,
02:50and I am here to work for you.
02:52Minister Surat Singh said he is, quote,
02:55here to work for the people of Trinidad and Tobago, end quote.
02:58Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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