The controversial billion-dollar Point Fortin Highway will not face the axe in Government’s cutbacks for 2015 due to falling oil prices. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar did not state where cuts will be made in her national address on Thursday, but United National Congress deputy political leader Dr Suruj Rambachan told Parliament yesterday the project is on. The estimated $7.5 billion dollar highway contract was awarded to OAS Construtora of Brazil.
The deal was signed when former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner was Works Minister. PNM MP Colm Imbert had charged then the Brazilian firm had a link with FIFA. The Highway Re-route Movement, led by hunger striker Dr Wayne Kublalsingh, has been clamouring for the Debe to Mon Desir leg of the highway to be stopped. Kublalsingh has said the oil price crisis will force the Government to stop the project.
But saying yesterday the Government does not intend to threaten jobs, Rambachan said project managers, the National Infrastructure Development Co, had secured a final loan of $1.5 billion last December for the completion of the highway. “For those who don’t think we have the money, we have the money.” Rambachan also disclosed the Couva Children’s Hospital and Oncology Centre projects will also continue.
The hospital, awarded to Chinese contractors at a cost of $975 million, is earmarked to be completed by March this year. Rambachan, refuting the Opposition’s charges, said the PM was actually very clear on the Government’s plan to deal with the oil crisis in her address. He said her main concern was helping citizens tide through this turbulence with little pressure.
Responding to Independent Liberal Party leader Jack Warner’s earlier criticism of government work programmes Cepep and URP, he said workers have actually done 1700 projects throughout T&T. “We’ll use any means we can to ease the burden, especially on the youth and children,” Rambachan said. He said the PNM, on the other hand, has been painting a picture of doom and gloom and threatening to bring pressure on the people.
Rambachan said Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley’s contribution indicated he planned to follow IMF austerity measures if the PNM comes into power. Challenging the Opposition to say what would be its plan to deal with the oil crisis if it came into power, Rambachan asked if it will introduce heavier taxes through the revenue authority and cut back on grants and public service jobs.