PM opens road, police station

“We are a people centred government, our projects, programmes, our policies must always be to put people at the centre, to ensure people are taken care of first,” Persad-Bissessar said.

“I have always said and I repeat that my legacy will not be in tall buildings or smelter plants.” The Prime Minister made these comments as she addressed the opening ceremony of the 7.5 kilometre segment of the highway, which would connect rural villages of Delhi Road, Fyzabad; Mon Desir and Grants Trace, Rousillac.

As if to demonstrate her enthusiasm for the connectivity the highway would bring to these communities, Persad-Bissessar along with several Government Ministers embarked on a drive along the newly constructed highway segment.

Addressing a large crowd of La Brea residents who turned out to witness the opening of the new police station, Persad-Bissesssar cited ongoing riots in the US city of Baltimore as she urged parents to become more involved in the lives of their children and lead them away from a life of crime.

She observed that despite fluctuating oil prices, TT did not record a budget deficit, as had been projected, but instead recorded a small surplus. “I’m very happy to say it was projected that we would have a deficit at this time at the close of half of the fiscal year, a deficit of $3.9 billion.

“The good news is we have no deficit at the end of the fiscal year.

At the end of the half fiscal year, we are now recording a surplus that is to say more income, more revenue... $47million,” she announced. Regarding the La Brea Police Station, which she pointed out had been promised by a previous PNM administration over a decade ago, Persad-Bissessar said the station was constructed in less than five years by the People’s Partnership.

“It took us five years... less than five years to build it, that’s why we are here, to keep the promises we made and not just to talk. We walk the talk and deliver.”

Also addressing the Highway segment opening was NIDCO president Dr Carson Charles who informed Persad-Bissessar that the agency was ready to oversee construction of a causeway to Chaguaramas from Port-of-Spain.

“As the head of NIDCO, I want to tell the Prime Minister, you want to build a road to Chaguaramas, you have come to the right place. NIDCO is a “can do” organisation, we can and so Madam Prime Minister when you are ready, NIDCO is ready,” Charles said.