Transport Minister Stephen Cadiz says citizens should have no illusions about T&T's need for an efficient highway network. To increase productivity and spur economic development, he said, there must be more reliable access to different point of the country.
In an address at the official opening of Ansa Automotive's new Ford showroom at Charles Street, Port-of-Spain, Cadiz said the highway networks and roads system currently being developed is "truly a remarkable feat whether you are going through Diego Martin; whether you are going through Frederick Settlement; whether you are going through the new Valencia by-pass to Sangre Grande; whether you are going through the expanded Churchill Roosevelt Highway, whether you are going off Rivulet Road, Couva, which is being rebuilt right now and whether you are going to Point Fortin."
"We have to have a proper, effective road systems to be able to develop the economy and that is what this Government is about. And, I know there are nay sayers, but really and truly if we don't do it, many of us will never know where Granville is or where Chatham or Fullerton are. A highway system is part and parcel of the economy growth of any country and I am pleased to be part of a Government that has recognised that.
"Soon, we will be seeing the new highway system from San Fernando to Princes Town and then eventually from Princes Town to Rio Claro and then Rio Claro into Mayaro and down to Galeota. The entire country is going to be connected by a first class, state of the art road system."
Commenting on the new Ford showroom, the minister shared his personal story about owning his first motor car which happened to be a Ford. He also revealed that he was related to Charles Mc Enearney the owner of Mc Enearney Motors which was the original dealership for the Ford brand in T&T.
Cadiz said the investment made by Ansa Automotive demonstrates the group's confidence in the local economy. He said this did not escape the attention of the Kamla Persad-Bissessar-led administration since construction of the new showroom represented a sizeable investment that would further stimulate national growth.
The minister said he attended the recent opening of Ansa McAL's block manufacturing facility at Longdenville which was valued at hundreds of millions of dollars.
"I am sure the Ansa McAL Group is very, very selective when they doing their investment and I think it really says something about the economy in T&T and of course doing business in T&T," he said.