New company to handle industrial estates

PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning yesterday announced the creation of the Property Industrial and Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago (PIDCOTT) to oversee the development of the proposed Wallerfield Industrial Estate and other similar estates in the country.

Manning also disclosed that he will be meeting in Antigua Jamaican Prime Minister PJ Patterson about supplying that country with Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Speaking at the post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall, Manning said Cabinet agreed to hive off  PIDCOTT from its parent company TIDCO and supply it with a revenue stream from the $44.8 million Hilton Trinidad and Conference asset fund and the $9.83 million asset fund. The Prime Minister said PIDCOTT will directly oversee the creation of the Wallerfield Industrial Estate which will comprise light manufacturing and technology-based industries and the proposed University of Trinidad and Tobago. Manning also disclosed that on Sunday he will fly to Antigua to discuss an arrangement whereby TT will supply LNG to Jamaica. He noted that this was not contingent upon the construction of Atlantic LNG’s Train Four and said those negotiations were proceeding smoothly. “We expect a Train Four,” Manning added. The Prime Minister said he will also hold discussions with his St Vincent and the Grenadines counterpart Dr Ralph Gonsalves on “issues of governance in the Caribbean” and the subject of political integration will be discussed.

On the recent Auditor-General’s report about the public debt crossing the $24 billion mark, Manning said the public debt was well under control, but Government was experiencing some problems with State sector debt and drew reference to Caroni (1975) Limited. Asked about Wednesday’s abduction of Santa Cruz businessman Anslem Choo Woon Chee, National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee said the Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS) has been very successful to date in dealing with incidences of kidnapping and Government continues to provide them with the resources they need. Chin Lee disclosed that an agreement has been reached with the United States Embassy to have four Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) agents come and give addtional training to members of the AKS in surveillance and detection techniques. The Minister lamented that Government was still hamstrung legislatively by the Opposition UNC’s refusal to support a strengthened Anti-Kidnapping Bill. Public Administration Minister Dr Lenny Saith said he was hoping to bring a note to Cabinet next week on the divestment of State-owned National Broadcasting Network (NBN) and was optimistic of a successful conclusion of wage negotiations between the doctors and the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs).