President of the T&T Contractors Association (TTCA) Mikey Joseph is taking a cautious approach over what policies he hopes to see from the new Cabinet of T&T. On Friday, 21 new minsters were sworn in as the new Cabinet for the People’s National Movement administration at Queen's Hall, St Ann’s.
Contacted by phone yesterday on what the TTCA was hoping for from the PNM Government, Joseph said: “We do not have a position right now. It is a new administration and we need to see what the policies of the new Government is. “We recognise that there are serious economic challenges but we need to see what their policies for our industry are.”
Joseph said, however, that some of their concerns from past administrations remained, including outstanding money owed to contractors estimated to be in the region of $1 billion. “Under the last government there was political interference as to who got paid and who did not get paid. We would like to see all outstanding debts settled,” he said.
He also referred to other issues the T&T Contractors Association has been advocating in the past. “We want to see a discontinuation of contracts awarded to foreigners. We would also like to see the operationalisation of the public procurement legislation,” he said. Joseph said he remains optimistic that the Government would also take measures to protect the vital construction industry.
“I think right now we are optimistic there would be change in the industry. We cannot keep giving foreign exchange to foreigners. “Almost everything is imported in this country. The problem is when the economy is bad, the construction industry becomes more vulnerable,” Joseph said.
Also contacted yesterday, president of the Joint Consultative Association (JCC) Afra Raymond said last Friday they wrote to the new Government congratulating them on their victory, adding he expects to work with them on issues of national interest.
“One of our main concerns is the procurement legislation. We want to continue dialogue with the new Government on this, as the bill has not come into effect as yet. But we are optimistic about the new administration,” he said.