Time is running out for rescuing country

In the meantime, time is running out for this Government to turn things around.

Unless this administration starts acting immediately, the remaining credit facilities that are available for restructuring may be eroded.

Additionally, the willingness of business to enter agreements with the administration may be diminished as they consider the possibility of a change in government in the next general election.

It is critical that this administration starts the following action immediately: * Embark on a policy of community management that incorporates community policing, electronic surveillance and structured community police patrols.

* Aggressively restructure the tourism package to include preserving historic buildings and dwellings like the remaining gingerbread houses in Port-of-Spain through a policy of preserving heritage sites including Chaguaramas. Upgrade hike trails, rivers, beaches, campsites, caves and other natural places of interest to international standards. Lease Chacachacare for private development and improve transportation to the island through a network of bridges and a causeway from Portof- Spain through Chaguaramas to the rest of the islands.

Allow for Tobago to manage its tourism package.

Structure Carnival and the steel pan industry into a public/ private partnership aimed at international marketing of the instrument.

* Start large-scale cultivation and processing of agricultural products through a public/private partnership that maximises the use of the Caroni lands.

* Survey and map all the lands throughout TT and designate areas for agriculture, building development, industry, waste disposal, cemeteries, water retention and other uses in a structured manner.

* Restructure State enterprises for efficiency and profitability.

* Upgrade our transportation infrastructure through a new network of roads and a public/private partnership arrangement that incorporates a rail system, buses and the ferry services.

* Restructure government services to be more customer friendly and accessible.

* Embark on a new longterm economic model that seeks to utilise the limited balance of our energy products for manufacturing, reduce our food bill through subsidised agriculture, increase our income from tourism by 500 percent, and encourage investment through attractive tax incentives.

These are just some of the activities that should engage the attention of the Government now.

We have declining income, our educated and talented personnel are leaving our shores, our communities are becoming too unsafe to attract investments, and our policies are unattractive to foreign investors.

We need to change things around. We can do this together.

Steve Alvarez via email