President of the Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce Richie Sookhai is happy about the decision by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to relocate the Ministry of Agriculture to Chaguanas in a new building previously designated for the Ministry of Tertiary Education and Skills Training.
"For several years now we at the Chamber have been calling for greater diversification of the T&T economy, particularly into the area of agriculture, so that we can reduce our food import bill and become more self-sufficient in terms of food production," he said
"Chaguanas and the wider Central Trinidad, with its history steeped in the sugar cane industry, is a prime area for agricultural development and the presence of the Ministry of Agriculture in this area must be seen as a positive development for the entire country. We are also glad to see that the building which was completed in record time under the stewardship of former Tertiary Education Minister, Mr Fazal Karim, will be put to use in quick time."
Sookhai said the move to Chaguanas was part of a trend in decentralisation that started under the previous administration.
"While this trend has not been viewed positively by some groups, we are of the firm view that all governments must undertake to decentralise state agencies if they want to see an improvement in productivity in the country," he said.
"On the same issue of decentralisation we are also hopeful that the new Motor Vehicle Authority building which was constructed in Caroni will soon be put to use. This will greatly reduce some of the traffic created by the presence of the Licensing Office on Wrightson Road and make life easier for so many of our citizens."
Sookhai said the Chamber looks forward to working with Agriculture Minister, Clarence Rambharat to develop the sector "particularly at a time when we will be facing many economic challenges brought on by the decline in oil and gas prices."