PNM to meet ‘grass roots people’

THE People’s National Movement (PNM) plans to hold a series of public meetings to meet with the “grass roots people” to discuss the Budget. Chairman of the party, Franklin Khan, told reporters yesterday, “It is an effort on behalf of the party not to make the Budget an esoteric type of document that doesn’t link directly with the grass roots and rank and file of the nation.” He was speaking at the party’s post-general council meeting at Balisier House, Port-of-Spain. He announced that the first “major post-budget rally” will take place at the Success Laventille Comprehensive school on October 23 from 12 noon to 6 pm. He assured, “John public will have an opportunity to come directly and meet and question the ministers and give suggestions as to what we should and should not do.” He said ministers would give detailed discourses of their plans.

Other meetings, said Khan, will follow throughout the country. The general council meeting was the first since Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Patrick Manning, presented the 2004/2005 fiscal package. Khan said as expected representatives of the various constituencies, “gave their accolades” and the general feeling among the membership, was that “the Budget was along the right track.” “It in fact addressed the key issues that we currently face and people are particularly happy with the way their party is leading the country, as it relates to 2020 vision.” Khan said more importantly, the budget told of Government’s plan “to deal with the day-to-day issues that confront people as it relates to employment, and especially poverty eradication and how we continue to manage the social sector.” He said a significant amount of money was dedicated to social programmes.

“In a very balanced approach, obviously I am not saying that we are a socialist government, but we plan to have an intricate balance where through private sector principles, we will determine how the Government runs its business, how it plans for the future and the economic expansion of trade, especially in the energy sector.” He assured that the disadvantaged in the community would continue to get Government support until they become “self-sufficient and self-sustaining.” Khan said Manning in his address to members, spoke of the major economic activity expected to take place over the next few years. He said Manning dealt at length with the “redevelopment of Port-of-Spain and the tremendous amount of work that will be taking place under the auspices of Udecott.”

Khan said the PM “went so far as to say that Udecott had declared 2005 the year of the ‘tower crane,’” because of the number of projects to be undertaken. Khan pointed out that work had already started on the Richmond Street car park complex and the Customs building. He said before year’s end, construction will begin on the Inland Revenue building, and early next year the new Ministry of Education building will begin, as well as the Waterfront development. He said designs for a new building for the Ministry of Agriculture are being developed, which would take the ministry out of  St Clair, making way for the country’s first five star hotel. As for the Salvatori building, Khan said that project will come on stream to the end of 2005. He said most likely it would be an 18-storey building, to include office space and three floors each for shopping and car parking.

Khan said the PM also told the General Council of plans to fast track the implementation of the light rail mass transit system. He said early next year proposals will be invited for “design, finance and construct.” Already a contract has been awarded for a feasibility study on the national transportation study  and within the first six months, Khan said Government will take an “investment decision on the project.” He said a study had already been completed by an Indian firm and based on that, there was enough information to proceed. Khan said the party also discussed plans for its December Convention and over the next three weeks, the constituencies will hold their elections and prepare their national reports for the Convention.