MP for Caroni East: Businesses Ruined by Fire Deserve Forex Support

The warehouses of major private sector businesses in the Caroni East electoral constituency were destroyed by fire this week, and I urge the authorities to assist the owners in resuming operations.

The businesses are Alisha Marketing Limited and Roomlocks Electrical Limited, importers and distributors of electrical and home decor products, and Seumeds Limited, importers and distributors of veterinary pharmaceuticals and agro supplies.

The losses suffered by Alisha Marketing and Roomlocks are estimated at $15 million, and the cost to Seumeds is valued at around $20 million.

As many as 45 workers have been displaced by the fire, which ruined all the stored supplies of the businesses.

The owners would simply like to be permitted to purchase an adequate sum of foreign exchange, which would allow them to import and restock their supplies.

They are not seeking any favours from the authorities.

All the products marketed by the companies are imported; they are not manufactured in Trinidad and Tobago.

The companies are the largest in their respective fields, and they also supply Caribbean markets.

Seumeds has been in business since 1982, and Alisha and Roomlocks have been operations since 1999.

These businesses have made a significant contribution to the economic and social well-being of the community.

I strongly urge that the requests for foreign exchange allocations be favourably considered in order that these valued private sector businesses could resume operations.

I also ask that the applications be dealt with in a timely manner.

Dr. Rishad Seecheran,
Member of Parliament for Caroni East.