Kickstarting construction in the country is the agenda of the Government nowadays. Two weeks ago, Finance Minister Winston Dookeran announced the Government had sourced a US$1.3 billion loan from the Inter-American Development Bank. Dookeran explained that the Government deliberately put most of its programmes in construction related activities. "For the year 2010/2011, we have the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) of about $7 billion, of which $5.4 billion has been earmarked to construction type activities: 75 per cent. We were aware of the need to push this economy by government spending on construction. Of course, that will happen over time, because to build the hospitals, to build the highways, requires a process. But the funds are there to initiate the whole process and to ignite it."
The first US$140 million should be available by December 1.
The first US$100 million is intended to finance the PSIP, while $40 million is earmarked for housing upgrade. In 2011, US$430 million will be injected into the Government's budget priorities.
1. Water treatment: US$26 million ($163 million)
2. Energy/climate change programme: US$70 million ($441 million)
3. Transport: US$300 million ($1.8 billion)
4. Social protection: US$30 million ($189 million)
Last week, the Minister of Works and Transport announced the first of two major projects: construction of the Solomon Hochoy Highway Extension to Point Fortin and the Mamoral Dam and Reservoir.
Priced at $4.6 billion, the projects are expected to take place over a four-year period and generate 27,000 jobs.
The PSIP gives life to the Government's plans in its distribution of financial resources to achieve its goals.
The 2011 PSIP has been criticised for being an almost blueprint of the 2010 PSIP. Last year, the PSIP was funded in two ways:
1. The Consolidated Fund of $2525.9 million in general revenues and $483.6 million in loan and grant funding
2.The Infrastructure Development Fund: $ 3,899.3 million from general revenues and external loans of $91.2 million.
The Business Guardian presents a condensed, Cabinet-approved PSIP and the amounts allocated to projects.
There are 760 projects. Most of the projects have been on-going from the last administration. The Business Guardian was told that the amount allocated for some of the projects-such as the construction of a Prime Minister's Residence in Tobago at $500,000-was a paltry sum and could lead to cost overruns.
Construction of public buildings
Tobago
Construction of New Licensing main office: Scarborough $500,000
Construction of Scarborough market: $5,000,000
Construction of Education head office: $500,000
Construction of Works main office: $2,000,000
Construction of an administration building for health and social services department: $3,000,000
Construction of head office for tourism and transport: $2,000,000
Construction of Prime Minister's residence: $500,000
Construction of a building for the Meteorological Services Division: $2,500,000
Construction of judges' and magistrates' housing in Tobago: $2,000,000
Accommodation for Tobago office of the Industrial Court
Trinidad
Construction of an official residence for the Chief Justice: $500,000
Construction/acquisition of Immigration building, San Fernando: $5,000,000
Construction of an administrative complex for the Ministry of Local Development: $1,000,000
Establishment of a Diplomatic Academy: $500,000
Construction of transport depot, Princes Town: $2,000,000
Construction of Institute of Marine Affairs' new facilities: $9,200,000
Improvement /refurbishment of public buildings
Tobago
Establishment of Prime Minister's Office: $500,000
Windward meeting and conference centre: $200,000
List of government projects
Improvement/ refurbishment to court facilities
Rehabilitation of the Hall of Justice, Trinidad: $5,000,000
Refurbishment of magistrates' courts: $8,000,000
Restoration of the San Fernando Supreme Court building: $200,000
Rehabilitation of the Hall of Justice (Tobago): $1,700,000
Provision of accommodation for the San Fernando Magistrates' Court: $2,000,000
Expansion of Rio Claro Magistrates' Court: $3,700,000
Construction of office complex for commissions and tribunals (Tobago): $2,000,000
Construction of the Arima Judicial Complex: $3,000,000
Construction of the Sangre Grande Magistrates' Court: $2,000,000
Provision of accommodation for the Special Criminal Court: -$2,000,000
Rehabilitation of public buildings
Trinidad
Refurbishment and retooling of constituency offices of Members of the House of Representatives: $4,000,000
Establishment of a government production house: $4,000,000
Refurbishment of National Security head office: $1,500,000
Construction of office complex for commissions and tribunals (central Trinidad): $2,000,000
Establishment of wholesale market at Macoya: $500,000
Provision of office and other facilities for south region: $800,000
Provision of office and other facilities for north region: $800,000
Infrastructure development/accommodation for the Ministry of Labour: $2,000,000
Accommodation of Water Resource Agency: $1,000,000
Ministry of Works and Transport Offices, renovation works: $7,700,000
Restoration of historic buildings
Restoration of President's residence: $12,000,000
Restoration of Queen's Royal College: $1,600,000
Trinity Cathedral restoration works: $1,200,000
Restoration of Stollmeyer's Castle: -$15,000,000
Whitehall restoration: $15,000,000
Restoration of the Red House: $15,000,000
Restoration of Mille Fleurs building (by Udecott): $3,000,000
Construction, rehabilitation of public buildings
Trinidad
Construction of a new south office for the DPP: $6,200,000
Construction of district offices: $10,000,000
Upgrade of C40 building at Chaguaramas: $3,000,000
Improvement to infrastructure, Cipriani Labour College: $12,000,000
Refurbishment of NBN Building: $2,000,000
Construction of residence for higher judiciary: $1,000,000
Construction of Chaguanas library: $15,000,000
Construction of Couva library: -$200,000
Agriculture
Food basket programme: $20,000,000
Primary school programme
Tobago
Construction of Scarborough Roman Catholic School: $10,000,000
Trinidad
Construction of Lengua Presbyterian Primary School
Construction of St Paul's AC Primary School: $1,700,000
Construction of Penal Rock Road SDMS primary school: $13,000,000
Improvement/refurbishment/extensions to primary schools: $25,000,000
Secondary school construction and other infrastructure works:$230,000,000
NEC, capital works programme
Development of new industrial sites, Pt Lisas south and east: $32,800,000
Development of new port facilities, Pt Lisas: $150,000,000
National Gas Company multi-fuel pipeline: $100,000,000
Health sector reform programme
Physical investments(hospitals, district health facilities, health centres): $51,000,000
Information systems (equipment & software): $40,000,000
Construction of oncology centre: $30,000,000
Hospital enhancement and development programme: $60,000,000
Physical investments (hospitals, district health facilities, health centres): $200,000,000
Construction of Scarborough Hospital: $65,000,000
Housing and settlements
High density housing programme: $20,000,000
HDC settlement programme
Housing grants: $20,000,000
Relocation of squatters: $10,000,000
State enterprises
Accelerated housing programme: $720,000,000
Establishment of Community College of T&T: $12,000,000
Establishment of UTT Tobago campus: $20,000,000
Upgrade of University Residence Halls: $30,000,000
Tobago technology centre: $12,000,000
Relocation of NESC's head office and the Brechin Castle Technology Centre: $8,000,000
Establishment of the main campus of UTT/Tamana: $200,000,000 (already $172 million spent on construction of foundations)
Wallerfield Industrial and Technology Park: $65,000,000
Road infrastructure improvement programme
Programme for Upgrading Road Efficiency (PURE): $248,000,000
Port-of-Spain-East/West Corridor Transportation Project: $250,000,000
Construction and upgrade of cultural facilities
Refurbishment of Queen's Hall: $2,000,000...
Establishment of a national heritage site at Nelson Island: $300,000
Renovation of Naipaul House, House for Mr Biswas: $300,000
Upgrade of Little Carib Theatre: $1,500,000
National Museum Development: $500,000
Establishment of Sugar Museum: $300,000
The Virtual Museum of T&T: $300,000
Establishment of social services facilities
Ministry of the People-Establishment of Unit: $5,000,000
Academy for the Performing Arts: $202,000,000
Community development
Community improvement services: $25,000,000
Development of rural communities: $50,000,000
Urban redevelopment: $30,000,000
Upgrade of community Infrastructure in South and South East Trinidad: $50,000,000
Tourism Action Programme: $182,100,000
Sea transport
Ferry service from Port-of-Spain to Point Fortin: $55,000,000