Point Fortin Mayor Clyde Paul wants to know why the country's first ever National Drilling Academy was established at the Usine Ste Madeleine campus of the National Energy Skills Centre (NESC), rather than in the southern Borough.Last December, Tertiary Education Minister Fazal Karim opened the $18.8 million facility, the only open access drilling technical training facility in the region in the heart of what was once T&T's sugar belt.
"Oil and gas is in Point Fortin. Point Fortin is the home for drilling oil and gas. If you look out any door in Point Fortin you would see a pumping jack, so how could you establish an academy for drilling in Ste Madeleine and not in Point Fortin?" Paul asked.He called on the Government to reconsider that position and establish a second drilling academy in Point Fortin.
"We built the country and we have very little to show for it, "the mayor told a forum hosted by the Point Fortin Southwest Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with Southwest Local Economic Development (LED) Project to look at development issues on the south west peninsula.The focus of the symposium was on the Point Fortin Highway and opportunities for people in the community.
Point Fortin/South Western Chamber of Industry and Commerce president Nigel Minors said it was the first in a series of five sessions in the LED Voice Series."Our aim, as we partner with UWI's Trade and Economic Development Unit, is to encourage a higher level of dialogue among stakeholders on a number of burning developmental issues.
"We seek to give more stakeholders a voice in the developmental process, but the goal goes beyond just talk. We intend to translate this dialogue into action through funded projects, higher-stakes lobbying at all governmental levels, and public-private partnerships."Minors said the Chamber noted the lack of attention paid to the south western peninsula in the last budget presentation. He said that was one of the primary reasons for the forum.
Paul, who was invited to share his perspective on what was happening in the area, expressed concern about the diminishing of skills in Point Fortin. He said skilled people were leaving the community to find jobs where their skills were required.Although he commended the government for finally starting the controversial highway from Point Fortin, Paul wondered where were the jobs for residents. He quoted statistics which showed that the Borough had an 18 per cent unemployment rate.
Minors also asked about the level of economic activity the highway construction will stimulate and how it will change the economic landscape of Point Fortin.In a power point presentation, Nidco senior project manager Earl Wilson said the delay in starting from Point Fortin had to do with capping of oil wells and removal of pipelines along the route.
Wilson also defended the proposed route, particularly the controversial Debe to Mondesir segment which is the focus of an ongoing campaign by Dr Wayne Kublalsingh and the Highway Reroute Movement.Wilson said it was the best possible and feasible route based on numerous studies.In response to questions from La Brea MP Fitzgerald Jeffrey as to why his constituency was bypassed, Wilson said this was due to the instability of the area caused by the Pitch Lake.