PM Manning markets TT at C’wealth business forum in Nigeria

PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning hinted that Government will soon repeat what he termed the “socio-economic success story” of Point Lisas and advised international investors that TT was now “one of the best locations for investment in the Western Hemisphere.”

Addressing a forum on “Partnership between Business and Government” during the  Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria last Wednesday, Manning said the Point Lisas Industrial Estate had “brought extensive economic activity and resulting social development” to the Point Lisas community and country as a whole. He said Government will replicate this success in other areas of TT to achieve similar socio-economic benefits and is already implementing plans for construction of the Wallerfield Industrial Estate to drive economic activity and social development in East Trinidad.

“This is an example of sociologial requirements dictating economic policy,” Manning declared. The Prime Minister added that it was the State’s role to ensure “there is a social conscience in all economic and business activity.” He told his audience, “The trickle down effect has no place in the process of effective governance and the responsibility of the State is to implement policies that re-distribute wealth where and imbalance exists.” The meeting of leaders of the various countries in the Common-wealth ends today.