Govt bit the Caroni bullet

TRADE MINISTER Ken Valley revealed on Saturday night that when Government decided  to transform the sugar industry “we bit the bullet and did what had to be done as a responsible  Government.” “We could not allow a situation in which a large group of workers and their communities would remain at the mercy of external forces over which we had little or no control,” he said. “The arrangements that we have put in place are consistent with trade adjustment strategies  worldwide where industrialised nations have institutions and a legal framework that allow them to deal with the downsizing of industries that are no longer competitive by organising the orderly departure of workers  and their absorption in other activities.

“That is what we have done in Trinidad and Tobago by following a similar process according to a set programme that has been unveiled.” Valley, who was addressing a function hosted by the Greater Chaguanas Chamber of Commerce, praised the organisation “for facilitating this kind of transition as we in Government were convinced that the entire area will make the adjustment and indeed will show new dynamism.” He added: “We are no longer distracted by the attempt to maintain a grip on an industry in which we could not compete under previous conditions of production in Caroni (1975) Limited.”

Valley said he was told the chamber was “gearing itself up and there is renewed vigour in industry and commerce as the ex-sugar workers re-deploy themselves to more rewarding pursuits.” “My ministry will be giving 100 percent support to the chamber for any proposal to utilise Caroni lands for developmental purposes,” he said. According to the minister, as a result of the Caroni Restructuring Programme  “unemployment increased a bit but since then has declined” and this was an indication that the ex-sugar workers are being absorbed in income-generating activities.”