Imbert: Experts for mass transit rail system due next week

This was revealed yesterday by Works Minister Colm Imbert during the Budget debate in the House of Representatives.

He stressed that Government was not acting by "vaps," but was proceeding after a detailed scientific study of all the pros and cons before making such a substantial investment.

"We are going to do it. It is our intention and we will proceed," he said, in reference to Government’s resolve in the area.

Imbert said the system was absolutely necessary because Trinidad and Tobago was way over the internationally accepted standard for traffic density.

Studies indicated that once the traffic density crossed 10,000 persons per hour in one direction, a rail-based mass transit system was vital, he said. Currently the traffic density on the Eastern Main Road exceeded 15,000, he said.

Imbert also stated that traffic congestion would also be alleviated when the $100 million interchange is built and completed in mid-2007. The interchange will be a tri-level structure, built west and north of the existing Intersection.

However, Imbert could not resist the temptation to rap the UNC’s new political leader. Various PNM spokesmen have virtually ignored Panday’s presentation and have focused almost exclusively on Dookeran’s Budget contribution, attacking him with a force that had not previously characterised the PNM’s response to any of Dookeran’s statements.

Speaking in the same vein as colleague Camille Robinson-Regis, Imbert said Dookeran’s contribution was "childish, pathetic and trivial." "I continue to be amazed as to why anybody in the country takes the member of St Augustine seriously," the Works Minister said.

He said in its four years of office, Government had reduced the public debt from $58 billion to $40 billion. At the same time, GDP rose and the level of borrowing fell from $5 billion to $3.5 billion, he said. "So how on earth can we have the leader of the party in Opposition talking about an economic bubble! He is a fraud, a charlatan, an imposter, a poser trying to mislead the population. Any student of economics would understand how strong and robust the economy is," he said.

He added that the former Central Bank governor was an "intellectual infant" and that he had the brain of a " political flea" and that he (Imbert) was tired of his (Dookeran’s) antiquated nonsense.

Imbert said Government should be praised, not criticised for giving back $1.5 billion in tax relief. He said the security guard at the Works Ministry was showing him where he paid $350 in tax in September, whereas under the new system (which starts in January) he would be paying no tax. "How could the act of giving back people money in the form of tax relief be labelled squandermania?" Imbert asked.

Referring to Opposition cynicism about the plan to build the Mamoral Dam, Imbert called on the Opposition to stop the schizophrenia of complaining about problems while at the same time "pooh-poohing" Government attempts to deal with problems.

"Unless Government is struck by a higher power, the Mamoral Dam will begin this year, and you could put that in your pipe and smoke it," he said.

Saying that the flooding in Caparo must stop, Imbert said all the designs were complete and the dam would be a reality.

"Just like the interchange!" he taunted. "Just like the Grenada Stadium!" Couva South MP Kelvin Ramnath countered.