T&T will stay oil dependent for at least the medium term, AmCham T&T President Hugh Howard predicted yesterday at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain."The main contributor to our economy continues to be oil and gas. Even as we diversify we expect that the country's reliance on this industry will continue at least over the medium term. This industry's importance to the T&T economy cannot be overemphasised," he said.
"It is therefore imperative that we optimize returns from this sector and invest or utilise same effectively in our diversification thrust." Howard said this "requires dedicated effort to ensure recruiting and retaining persons with required qualifications and skills, particularly in the public sector enterprises which are charged with the operation and management of a significant percentage of oil and gas assets."
Howard said "dozens of secondary school students" would visit the AmCham HSSE conference which ends today.The conference will look at process safety, air pollution and waste management, business continuity, occupational health and the indoor work environment, cyber security and fraud, protecting the marine environment and more.