Seukeran talks trade

The San Fernando West MP was speaking at the constituency’s 39th Annual Confere-nce at San Fernando City Hall Auditorium on Wednesday evening.

The function was also held to mark the 50th anniversary of the People’s National Mo-vement and the country’s 44th anniversary of Independence.

Seukeran said that the ministry was resp-onsible for facilitating all business investments and development in the country, except in the oil and gas sector. Seukeran said that Government’s trade ne-gotiations with count-ries were geared to-wards integrating the country and Caricom into the world market by negotiating the best terms of access for goods, services and human resources.

“At the same time, the aim is to protect our small industries from fierce competition of economies of scale originating in the developing world,” the minister said.

Saying it was extremely difficult and technical, Seukeran said, “TT must compete for investments in the world market as does every other country while our local business must compete there as equals with much larger global giant enterprises.”

Constituency Chair-man, Owen Hinds, said the constant cry for housing accommodation was deafening in San Fernando West but land space continues to pose a problem for Government.

Hinds said that in some areas where land is available there is a strong objection to construction of housing projects there.

He added that while the political pundits continue to refer to the constituency as being marginal, the constituency continues to remain focused, alert, prepared, united and ready to do its duty in securing a comfortable victory when the election trumpet is sounded.

The function was also attended by Social Development Minister Anthony Roberts and San Fernando Mayor Kenn-eth Ferguson.

Former mayor of San Fernando Ian Atherly was also presented with a plaque for his contributions as mayor to the city.