Hardwares: No shortage

In making this disclosure yesterday, TTHDA president Euric Bhagwansingh told Newsday that his group has written to Prime Minister Patrick Manning requesting a meeting to discuss prices for these commodities and ways to ensure a ready supply of all of these commodities for the construction industry.

Bhagwansingh said while there have been rumours of local shortages of basic construction materials, the reality is that there is no shortage of cement, concrete, aggregate or steel. He said all hardwares have stocks of all of these commodities but the regularity of supply for certain types of products varies in certain places.

Bhagwansingh identified certain types of concrete blocks as an example, indicating that these are being used in large amounts in the Government’s accelerated national housing programme. He also said that prices of basic construction materials have remained very stable.

On the issue of price controls for the construction industry, Bhagwansingh declined to comment but said his association has written to the Prime Minister to request a meeting on this matter.

Also writing Manning on this subject was former Supermarkets Association of TT president Balliram Maharaj.

In his letter to the Prime Minister, Maharaj praised last week’s announcement by Trade and Industry Minister Ken Valley about the removal of Common External Tariffs (CETs) on cement, steel and aggregate to ensure the availability of these materials for the construction industry.

While applauding Manning for attempting to stabilise the situation in the industry through the re-introduction of price controls, Maharaj said he believed that this measure would “take the country backwards.” He suggested that Government explore options such as concessions for equipment used in the supply of aggregate, which he claimed was now in short supply. “One must remember that as long as there is sufficient stock of any commodity on the market and the demand is less than supply, prices will automatically reduce,” Maharaj stated.

On the issue of CET removal on construction materials, Maharaj said this would result in an immediate ease on any shortages of these commodities. He explained that as long as the stocks of these commodities are greater than the market requirements for them, “competition will step in and reduced prices will be the end result.”

Maharaj also suggested that Government consider instituting contractual arrangements for CEPEP and URP workers to ease any labour shortages at any State-owned quarries and import aggregate from Caricom nations for Government programmes. Maharaj’s letter was copied to Valley, Labour Minister Danny Montano and Legal and Consumer Affairs Minister Christine Kangaloo.