$50M project to create 3,500 jobs

THE Ministry of Local Government is soon to implement a $50 million project which will create 3,500 jobs. The Infrastructural Renewal Improvement Development (IRID) programme is being dubbed the “granny irritants” programme since it deals with small construction work of pavements, drains, footpaths and small bridges. Marina Modeste, advisor to Local Government Minister Rennie Dumas, revealed the plans yesterday when she spoke on behalf of Dumas at a luncheon hosted by the Port-of-Spain Rotary Club. Modeste said the ministry was placing great emphasis on infrastructural development which would be a four-year programme at a substantial cost, to achieve social and economic development. She said to ensure sustainability of road paving, $50 million was allocated to the IRID programme dubbed the “granny irritants” programme by Dumas, a small scale labour intensive development which would employ 3,500 persons with no skills required. She said the project is expected to come on stream in the third or fourth quarter or even earlier.

According to Modeste, projects costing between $50,000-$100,000 would comprise 60 percent of the works, $100,000-$250,000 25 percent and 250,000-$500,000 15 percent. She added that the purchase arrangement will be modified to reduce constraints and the selection of project implementation will be based on selective competitive bidding. Additionally, Modeste said it was proposed that a regional tenders committee be established to make recommendation for awards of projects up to $100,000. A Permanent Secretaries Tenders Committee will make recommendations for awards between $100,000 and $500,000.