In light of Finance Minister Winston Dookeran's statement that the Government's main focus for 2012 budget will be jobs and investments, the T&T Contractors Association (TTCA) is calling on the Government to provide details for all proposed programmes for next year. Mervyn Chin, president of the TTCA, said the programmes must be practiced in a transparent and accountable manner in order to re-build the nation's confidence. "The Government did attempt to kickstart the industry, but did not provide any clear or detailed guidelines. However, high unemployment remains an issue as the majority of affected workers belonged to the building sector, which was the demand for the past five years."
The construction industry, which is yet to experience full employment, welcomes the Government's drive for jobs and investments and is anxious to hear detailed investment plans. Chin advised that regarding construction projects, a proper survey for each area of development should be done and then prioritise same based on the needs that will benefit the greatest number of citizens, executed through various ministries and state agencies like Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott) Housing Development Corporation (HDC), National Insurance Property Development Company Ltd (Nipdec), Education Facilities Company Ltd (EFCL), National Infrastructure Development Company Ltd ( Nidco, and e-TecK, etc.
Public procurement and transparency
While investments are important to T&T's economic development, so too is the construction sector.
Chin said there are some policy measures that must be implemented as they would augur well with the investment plans to ensure the industry thrives. "What has happened over the last year is past, but how we proceed over the next year during this crucial period of austerity matters is what's important. In addition to prioritising programmes, we recommend certain policies which will go a long way at improving the construction industry and its delivery." He said a national building code must be established. Although it's not a new call by the industry, Chin said the need for such a code must be emphasised.
He noted that buildings such as the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex were designed and built according to European standards. Another key suggestion is a public procurement policy. Chin explained that this policy would provide an avenue for security and transparency for special purpose companies such as Udecott. He said an institute licensing contractors would deter unqualified persons and companies from engaging in services they cannot effectively provide. This licensing would facilitate proper registering of companies that are sufficiently financed with the requisite qualifications. "So if people contract their services, there could be proper recourse measures from these bonafide companies."
Value for money
Recounting the TTCA's expectations and anticipation of the PP Government during and after the election campaign, Chin said the Government had promised to attend to the woeful state of the infrastructure services. He said this against the background of the previous administration which envisioned first-world development: grandeur high-rise commercial buildings, schools, hospitals, sporting complexes "that were done at breakneck speed." Chin said this ambitious activity resulted in overheating of the construction industry, which led to the importation of foreign workers and inflated wages, which some saw as not getting value for money. Chin said the spending on those public sector projects was a wanton waste of the public purse. The TTCA head said the construction industry has gone from overheated to near stagnant.
On the infrastructure side, Chin said there has been some activity, such as on-going work on the overpass at the intersection of the Uriah Butler and Churchill Roosevelt Highways, widening of the Uriah Butler Highway, repaving of roads, drainage works and start of the much-touted San Fernando to Point Fortin Highway. "The TTCA previously wrote to the majority of government ministries and state agencies seeking advice on their current development programmes and schedules, but the responses or lack of it seems to confirm either they too didn't know or not wanting to commit, stemming from the very late appointments of a majority of boards. Instead, we heard ad hoc statements from various ministers, noting this and that will be built, which aren't mentioned under the Public Sector Investment Programme."