Construction boom lures Chinese

Meanwhile, the TT Contractors Association yesterday said it was unaware of any increase in the number of Chinese nationals working in the construction industry or of any local contractor hiring large numbers of these persons to work on their respective projects.

Ministry officials told Newsday the number of Government construction projects taking place in TT has resulted in an increase in the number of contracts and subcontracts being offered to companies to work on these projects.

Among the Chinese construction companies currently operating in TT are the Shanghai Construction Group and Sunway Construction Ltd.

The Shanghai Construction Group is currently involved in projects such as the construction of a new headquarters for the Ministry of Social Development and the proposed new Carnival Centre to be built at the Queen’s Park Savannah.

Sunway is involved in the construction of new offices for the Ministry of Legal Affairs at the Government Campus Plaza being constructed at Richmond Street in Port-of-Spain.

While ministry officials said it was difficult to give exact numbers of Chinese nationals who are currently working in or have applied to work in TT, they gave the assurance that none of these people have entered the country illegally.

Recently, Immigration officials deported ten foreign nationals (six Vietnamese and four Chinese) who were detained on Charlotte Street in Port-of-Spain.