Rowley tells Quarries: Obey the law

The Government’s upcoming construction boom offers great opportunities to quarry owners, but such operators should maintain public respect by obeying the law.

So said Minister of Planning and Development Dr Keith Rowley, addressing the inauguration of an executive of the Quarry Association of Trinidad and Tobago (QATT) held recently at Crowne Plaza. Rowley told attendees that their services were essential for the Government to carry out its programme of construction of 100,000 hosing units over 10 years, plus the construction of numerous public buildings.

The Government, he said, would soon build a Government Office Complex on Dundonald Street including a new Ministry of Education headquarters plus an  accompanying multi-storey car-park. A new Ministry of Health office is due to be built at Queen’s Park East, he added. Disclosing that the Government owns the reclaimed land at Invaders Bay, Rowley said: “We will form a company and sell equity in it and the company will develop the site for business, residences and other uses”.

He envisaged the extension of the Brian Lara Promenade to reach the waterfront, noting: “We propose to invite proposals to finance the construction of office towers to house the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and possibly the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and other projects, at where the Promenade is to be extended to.” Rowley upbraided those in the State sector who said certain local quarry materials did not meet required standards. “Why are no new buildings incorporating our blue limestone into the aesthetics?” he asked.

He added: “What is holding back the quarry industry in Trinidad and Tobago is that our quarries are not entirely well managed and that our equipment is antiquated.” Congratulating QATT as being important to national development, Rowley then warned quarry operators: “Trinidad and Tobago must be the only country in the world where people break the law and say ‘I’m just earning a living’”. 

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"Rowley tells Quarries: Obey the law"

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