Padarath: Is Rowley’s plan still a Ply Board Factory for jobs and diversification?
Member of Parliament for Princes Town Barry Padarath in a press release challenged Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley to break his silence on his promise for the creation of a Ply Board factory in La Brea. Rowley made the promise during the general election campaign of 2015.
Padarath stated that while thousands of citizens were losing their jobs the government is doing nothing to stimulate economic growth and to create jobs. He stated that the Prime Minister as the head of the Cabinet has failed to indicate to the nation what steps are being taken to bring investment to Trinidad and Tobago. He further indicated that the Prime Minister must tell the country if after seven months of being in office his plan, to stimulate growth and investment in the country is the creation of the Ply Board Factory.
The Princes Town MP slammed the Prime Minister for what he described as “mamaguying” the population with promises that never materialise. He indicated that one of the main priorities of the government should be job creation. Padarath lamented that there was very little discussion on the issue of job creation through government’s plans to diversify the economy.
He stated that the Prime Minister indicated on July 11th 2015 on a political platform that the creation of a ply board factory would be one of the first priorities of his government. Rowley said he had spent the last two years “looking at that and talking to people”. He told supporters, “Having raised these in the correct quarters, there are investors around the world who would look to invest in Trinidad and Tobago. And I am saying here in La Brea tonight that one of the first things the next government will do will ask the relevant ministry to pursue that possibility, and such an industry will be located right here in La Brea.”
The Princes Town MP said there was an absence of innovation by the government to bring investment to sectors that could assist with moving away from oil and gas. He indicated that a People’s Partnership government would have continued to move full speed ahead to diversify through the green, blue and silver economies.
Padarath lamented that many young people were losing their jobs and that the government’s veiled attempts to possibly remove GATE had many uneasy and concerned about their futures. He called on the government to reveal what are their specific plans to create jobs and bring investment to the nation outside of oil and gas. He further stated that the answer could not be a Ply Board factory and called on Rowley to break his silence on this specific promise and government’s plans for creating new industries.
Padarath indicated that he would be seeking answers in the Parliament from the Prime Minister on whether his plan for job creation and investment is still a Ply Board Factory.