Government of Trinidad to establish local shipbuilding industry
Minister in the Ministry of Finance Christine Sahadeo made the announcement yesterday as she delivered the feature address on the third and final day of the first annual Caribbean Port Conference at the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business, Mt Hope.
Sahadeo said that as part of the development of the local shipping and maritime industry the government planned to look at the opening of a shipbuilding facility in the country, which would be the first of its kind in the Caribbean region. She added that we already have drydock facilities for the repair of large ships.
"The establishment of this industry will assist in creating special skills and particularly at creating employment. I know that you will say that we already have full employment but we must always make sure that we create industries which are sustainable and can provide jobs in the long term," Sahadeo said.
In regard to the development of the local ports system, Sahadeo said that legislation and other plans for the Port of Port of Spain is on the front burner for the Government.
She added that tests on the proposed site at Sea Lots for the relocation of the Port of Port of Spain have been completed and revealed that the site is an ideal one.
She added that the relocation of the Port of Port of Spain should be completed within the next two years.
This move will be in time for the change in management of the Port as the local Port Authority will the scrapped and replaced by the National Ports Council.
Sahadeo said that as part of the development of the local shipping and maritime industry the government planned to look at the opening of a shipbuilding facility in the country, which would be the first of its kind in the Caribbean region. She added that we already have drydock facilities for the repair of large ships.
"The establishment of this industry will assist in creating special skills and particularly at creating employment. I know that you will say that we already have full employment but we must always make sure that we create industries which are sustainable and can provide jobs in the long term," Sahadeo said.
In regard to the development of the local ports system, Sahadeo said that legislation and other plans for the Port of Port of Spain is on the front burner for the Government.
She added that tests on the proposed site at Sea Lots for the relocation of the Port of Port of Spain have been completed and revealed that the site is an ideal one.
She added that the relocation of the Port of Port of Spain should be completed within the next two years.
This move will be in time for the change in management of the Port as the local Port Authority will the scrapped and replaced by the National Ports Council.