TT not godfather or Santa Claus

Even as the PNM moves to set up its own relief fund to assist with damages caused by Hurricane Ivan, party chairman Franklin Khan made it clear that Trinidad and Tobago was neither Santa Claus nor anybody’s godfather. Khan was speaking yesterday at the post-PNM General Council news conference at Balisier House, Port-of-Spain. In his address to the General Council, Khan said Prime Minister Patrick Manning was “particularly careful to highlight that the efforts not come across as though we are Santa Claus or the godfather of the region.”

Khan told reporters that TT was  looking at “trade even in our own interest, but bearing in mind the humanitarian aid.” Khan said that “Caricom trade is so fundamental that your country can’t survive if your market doesn’t exist, so its a simple economic rationale.” Khan said Manning also gave a “detailed and involved” discussion on issues relating to Caricom in relation to the economies of the region, focusing on the series of initiatives taken over the last week, including  the setting up of the $300 million Energy Relief Fund in the wake of Hurricane Ivan. On the PNM relief fund, Khan said it will be a “long-term sustainable funding since after the euphoria dies out Grenada will still be in need and it may move out of the radar.” Welfare Officer, Jocelyn Bodden, will oversee the operations of the fund.

Khan said there will be three collection centres — Balisier House and its San Fernando and Chaguanas offices, adding that an account will also be established at Republic Bank. On the Caricom single market, Khan said, “If we destroy it, we destroy our own industry, since we are the largest market and most buoyant market.” He said there was a clear economic, social and even political rationale behind the initiatives. On the question of assistance to Tobago as a result of Hurricane Ivan, Khan said the General Council received a report from its Tobago Council which indicated that the effects of Hurricane Ivan were mostly on “an individual level — households, villages and individuals, rather than  Tobago as an island.” Khan reassured that the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) had “ample resources to deal with the matter, and there was no need for any quasi-international efforts to assist the island.” He reiterated that whatever additional resources needed would come from central Government.

Regarding the flooding in central Trinidad, Khan said the major Caroni embankment project was well on its way to completion by July next year. He said the $10 million project might go up by $5 million, but it will alleviate major floods in the district. On the issue of additional resources to NEMA, Khan said National Security Minister Martin Joseph had been mandated to look into the matter. He said having had a “near miss,” things will be put in place. He said if there was to be another hurricane affecting TT now, “we will be more prepared than we were two weeks ago.” He also announced that the PNM convention is now scheduled for December 4 and 5, instead of November 27 and 28, 2004. The dates had to be shifted because of the unavailability of the Chaguaramas Convention Centre. He said the convention and election will see all the positions being contested with the exception of the political leader, chairman, vice chairman and general secretary which are five- year terms.