The Trinidad & Tobago Business Guide (TTBG, 2009-10)

has several new parks in the pipeline. Other
infrastructural projects are in the hands of
the National Infrastructure Development
Company (Nidco) and the National Insurance
Property Development Company (Nipdec).
Not surprisingly, the construction sector
has soaked up pretty much all the available
labour, and some imported Chinese labour
too (Chinese firms have been heavily
involved in funding and constructing some
of these ventures). Some projects have been
postponed by the budget cuts, including a
striking Carnival performance centre in the
Queen’s Park Savannah, school and housing
starts, and hospitals for Port of Spain and
Point Fortin.
buses called “maxi-taxis”.
But the main north/south and east-west
highways are slowly being upgraded and
extended; a flyover will soon be easing the
chronic congestion at the point where they
intersect; and a new freeway between San
Fernando and Princes Town is on the cards.
New fast ferries link Tobago and Trinidad,
halving the travelling time between the islands.
Since the end of 2008 four “water-taxis”, highspeed
catamarans, have been operating between
Port of Spain and San Fernando, and will
eventually add intermediate stops and extend
to the city’s western suburbs at Westmoorings.
Port of Spain is to acquire a new port, east of
the present site.
The biggest construction scheme of all is a
hugely expensive rapid rail system, which is in
the early planning stages. Two lines, running
north/south and east/west, will cover about
105 kilometres, linking the capital with east
Trinidad and San Fernando.
... and new energy projects are going
ahead
The government is pushing ahead with a
125,000 tonne-per-year Alutrint aluminium
smelter and dock at La Brea, a US$2 billion
Essar steel plant (in which the ill-fated Clico
Investment Bank has been involved—see
sidebar), a US$2.3 billion polypropylene
plant, and an upgrade for the Petrotrin refinery
at Pointe-à-Pierre. (See our report on energy
elsewhere in this Guide for a survey of energy
sector development.) The new 1,724-hectare
Point Lisas South and East Estate, adjoining
the original Point Lisas complex, will have
its own port, and construction continues on
Methanol Holdings’s urea/ammonium/nitrate
plant. Some of these projects are running
late, while others seem likely to be delayed or
deferred.
“Can-do” state agencies are handling
implementation ...
This orgy of public construction is being
handled by a variety of state agencies, the
largest portfolio at present being held by the
Urban Development Corporation (Udecott).
In addition to the waterfront development,
the government campus, the performing arts
academies and the Brian Lara sports complex
at Tarouba, Udecott runs dozens of projects in
every part of the country, involving anything
from new offices for ministries and local
government bodies to housing projects, land
reclamation, refurbishment of government
buildings, transit hubs and a large complex in
San Fernando to accommodate shops, offices
and entertainment.
Other state agencies have heavy
responsibilities too in the construction
sector. Evolving TecKnologies and Enterprise
Development (eTecK) is developing a hightech
industrial park at Tamana; it oversees
the existing industrial park network, and
“Vision 2020” is the government’s
road map ...
New public buildings, transport services and
facilities are critical to the government’s overall
vision for Trinidad and Tobago, set out in great
detail in its “Vision 2020” documents, which
have been in preparation since 2002. Basic
documents can be found at www.vision2020.
info.tt, including:
• the official Draft Strategic Plan for turning
Trinidad and Tobago into a “developed
nation”
• the current version (2007-2010) of the
rolling Operational Plan
• the latest “Transformation in Progress”
report (for 200)
• reports from the many committees which
have been developing
recommendations for each social and
economic sector.
The Vision2020 concept is based on five
developmental “pillars”:
• Developing innovative people
• Nurturing a caring society
• Governing effectively
• Enabling competitive businesses
• Investing in sound infrastructure and
environment.
... and non-energy investment
priorities have been set
A number of non-energy sectors have been
selected by the government as priority areas for
investment:
• Downstream petrochemicals
• Film
• Fishing and fish processing
• Food and beverages
• Information and communications
technology
• Yachting
• Printing and packaging
• Music and entertainment
• Merchant marine industries.
10 TTBG 09/10