00:00Works and Infrastructure Minister Jolene John says the National Revitalization Blueprint has attracted significant attention, with 965 expressions of interest.
00:12Of those, about 40 proposals are focused on port development.
00:17That is serious. Some from our own local investors and some from international investors.
00:24Some of their balance sheets could power small and medium-sized economies.
00:28So these are serious proponents.
00:30So Port City would relocate heavy industrial cargo operations offshore into a deep-water logistics platform designed with draft depths
00:40of up to 18 meters.
00:41Speaking at a regional shipping and logistics conference at the Hyatt Regency, the minister urged stakeholders to confront the issues
00:49slowing the sector.
00:51Industry stakeholders must raise legitimate concerns, such as the long layover time from the time the cargo arrives in Trinidad
00:58to when it gets into your hands, because there's a cost attached to that.
01:03And that cost goes down not only to you and your business, but to every man, woman and child citizens
01:09of this country.
01:10She pointed to global benchmarks, noting that ports in Singapore and Dubai turn around vessels in under 12 hours, while
01:18Rotterdam averages just over a day.
01:22But locally, inefficiencies remain.
01:24We are facing a quiet but urgent crisis in pilotage, where the average age of our marine pilots is 50
01:31years.
01:31Now, 50 years, if you're my age, is young, but for them, it's not so young.
01:38Ain't nobody say, well, Jillian, you're looking good.
01:40What's that?
01:41The danger is not the age itself, but the gradual erosion and potential loss of this specialized workforce, resulting in
01:49the inability to handle routine traffic volumes.
01:51The minister says government is already working to strengthen the sector, including upgrades to the National Ship Repair Facility.
01:59We are working to restore carry-doctor operational readiness, as it is simply too costly and time-consuming to continue
02:07sending our vessels elsewhere, like overseas.
02:10At Plipdeco Bus 2, it's crumbling with its adjacent container yard degraded.
02:14At the ministry, we are working with Plipdeco to commence a very robust and ambitious upgrade and renovation project, which
02:22starts in the final quarter of 2025.
02:25Plans are also underway to expand port infrastructure, including improvements to birth capacity, channel depth, cargo handling systems, as well
02:35as transforming Galeota into a major energy port.
02:40That is envisioning an expansion of Trinidad-Tobago's heavy industrial and offshore servicing capabilities, positioning the country as a maritime
02:48energy gateway, capable of supporting LNG logistics, hydrogen development and offshore fabrication.
02:55She adds that legislative reforms are also in motion, with a new shipping bill proposed to strengthen the regulatory framework.
03:03I'm a serious and committed professional. I answer my phone. I read all my WhatsApp and emails, personally. Call me
03:11and I'll answer. Is that the time to meet? I'll meet. And that means, a day for me is 24
03:17hours.
03:18Minister John says continued collaboration with industry will be key to unlocking growth, as government moves to position Trinidad and
03:27Tobago as a competitive maritime hub in the region.
03:30Arvishita Wari Rabnarain, TV6 News.
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