Hart: Contractors need more than talk to stimulate economy

Hart, who has been in the construction sector for over five decades, said almost nothing has changed in what successive government say regarding the contractors? place in TT’s economy.

“I expect to hear of the important role that construction will play in economic reconstruction. This is something I listened to at the Mobilisation of Domestic Financial Resources hosted by then Prime Minister Eric Williams in 1976. I expect to hear that the construction sector is a medium for job creation, something that I listened to at the Lloyd Best Tapia seminar on the nation’s future in 1977,” he told gathered stakeholders.

Hart said the expectation is usually that the construction should be able to rise to the challenge of stimulating the economy in difficult times by attracting investment and creating jobs.

He argued though that government’s inconsistent action has undermined this achievement.

“We have not been able to help the government in the way required because over the years, successive governments have emasculated the construction sector. Today, it is a shell of what it could and should be,” said Hart.

The TTEITI chair said this started in the 1970’s when government stopped doing five year plans, preventing the industry from being able to proceed with preparations for projects it might receive.

“Government continued to emasculate the sector,” said Hart, “when in his 1979 budget speech, Dr.

Eric Williams, instead of encouraging the growth of the local designer and construction companies to meet the demands of TT post OPEC energy windfall, announced the introduction of the government to government arrangements that sidelined local firms.” Hart also went on to say that since the 70s, there have been an assortment of foreign firms favoured over locals.

Meanwhile, the contractor said government allowed the sector to be under regulated, with foreigners being able to operate in T&T without registering with local associations, work without posting bonds to see that locals are paid when they leave the country and without transferring technology.

Foreigners were also paid before locals, which Hart said resulted in a contraction of the number of firms in the industry and sometimes, layoffs and bankruptcies.

The TTEITI head said the sector was eager to play its part but needed government to extend a hand toward it.

“For us to deliver, government has to enter into immediate dialogue with us and listen to our pleas and help us to organise the sector in a more efficient manner.” “Then,” said Hart, “the sector would be able to fill its potential and become more productive. The government can bring on their projects and be assured that the local contractor can deliver on time and on budget.”