Allan Ferguson, President of the Scrap Iron Dealers Association, says his budget wish list is simple: he wants the government to prioritize his industry. While everyone is clamouring for U.S. dollars, Ferguson insists that the scrap iron sector has the potential to generate significant forex for the country.
00:00If they take a little more look at our industry and concentrate and work with us to fix our industry, a lot of foreign exchange could come into Trinidad because the minister actually had a meeting with us and they would have discussed that our industry needs to look at because our industry is bringing foreign exchange.
00:22Ferguson also commented on the mass dismissals of workers at CPEP, URP and other government programs, noting that while the scrap iron industry creates jobs, there is still a critical need for government to generate employment in lower income communities and hotspot areas.
00:42He warns that the lack of opportunities can drive people into crime.
00:47I mean to say, that's why sometimes the people in charge need to go on the ground and find out.
00:54You see, if you're dismissing people from employment in the ghetto, if you understand what it is, when a man's back is against the wall, it's where you turn to anything to help out the family.
01:08And when you turn to anything to help out this family, crime is one of these things.
01:12Ferguson is urging the government to invest in resources in vulnerable communities to create jobs.
01:20While he acknowledges the administration's efforts to stamp out corruption, he emphasizes the need to address both sides of the coin, providing opportunities for citizens while enforcing the law.
01:32Whilst you want to fix things, you have to fix things with other things that you must have to think about.
01:40How you fix it by arm and you're taking away from people, you have something to give them, whilst you're fixing it.
01:47There's no take away employment from people and you have nothing to give them.
01:51And it's months taking, months going by, and that is bad, and I think that we need to fix all of these things.
01:57The Prime Minister has assured the budget will be laid in the Parliament in early October.
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