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CARING ABOUT
YOU TODAY AND
TOMORROW
THE 2010 MANIFESTO
OF THE PNM
PEOPLE’S NATIONAL MOVEMENT
The Next 5 Years – the Way Forward
THE POLITICAL LEADER THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
PATRICK MANNING
It gives me great pleasure on behalf of the People’s National Movement to present to you
the Manifesto of the PNM for the forthcoming 2010 General Election.
Our programme for the next five years is based on our Vision to make Trinidad and
Tobago a developed country on or before the year 2020, and on the work we have
done over the last 8 ½ years to lay a solid foundation for the attainment of this Vision.
We are already well on the way towards achieving our developmental agenda and in
many areas, such as the development of the energy sector, financial and economic stability, industrialization, infrastructure development, higher education and training, job creation, social programmes, poverty reduction, housing, health care and public transportation, we are well ahead of our 2020 timelines and targets.
Our record speaks for itself and we are of the view that no other Government except
a PNM Government in the history of Trinidad and Tobago has been able to achieve so much in such a relatively short space of time. As we continue the transformation of Trinidad and Tobago into a developed country and develop the concomitant capacities and capabilities of our people, it is with appropriate respect and understanding that we recognize how much more needs to be done to realize our goal of developed nation status by 2020 and to create the just and caring society that the people of Trinidad and
Tobago are capable of.
As we move closer and closer towards developed country status, I ask that we all do so with love for each other, and with compassion, tolerance and respect for all of our citizens, regardless of class, financial circumstances, colour or ethnic
background.
We in the PNM believe that all men and women are created equal in the sight of God and are thus entitled to equality of treatment and equal access to the resources of this great country. We believe in the principles of fellowship and fraternity, in one
people living in harmony and we believe that we can all work together in unison in the interest of all citizens, Let us demonstrate the spirit of caring and commitment to social justice which makes us as a country and a people truly great. Let us leave no one behind in our march forward, as we seek to provide for all our citizens the material basis for a life of dignity, progress, happiness, prosperity and respect.
I firmly believe that our 41 candidates representing the PNM in this most important
Election satisfy the essential criteria of trustworthiness, integrity, competence and
commitment that are required of elected representatives. As the leader of the PNM
team, I am steadfastly committed to ensuring that we provide the necessary experience, skill, talent and energy that is required to achieve our Vision for Trinidad and Tobago
Our 2020 objectives can only be realized through a symbiotic and mutually beneficial relationship between the people and the government and to this end we are committed to renewing our efforts in our next term towards reforming our system of Government to
allow full and meaningful participation in the national development
process by all citizens of our beloved country.
Eight and a half years after the historic 18-18 PNM victory in 2001, followed by the decisive 20-16 victory at the polls in 2002 and a third emphatic 26-15 electoral victory in 2007, Trinidad and Tobago is well on the way to achieving the hallmarks of a developed
country in a not too distant 2020. Social programmes available to senior citizens and the disadvantaged are unprecedented in the region. Public Service Reforms continue to enhance the business environment. Road system improvements, modern accommodation for public servants and other working citizens, and our artistes, have redefined both our
skyline and quality of life.
Drafting of legislation to facilitate effective and participatory local and central Government, and constitutional reform, is well advanced. The PNM Government which
took up office in 2007 was able to build on the reforms carried out since 2001, which improved the level of service to the people. The global environment changed dramatically during this period but the PNM Government distinguished itself.
A BRIEF
HISTORICAL
PERSPECTIVE
Maintained and expanded health care, education, social services, public transport and national security initiatives and services despite worsened financial circumstances triggered offshore Created the conditions for the resumption of growth in GDP in Trinidad and Tobago in the fourth quarter of 2009, by 0.8%, despite the worldwide recession
and economic contraction in most developed countries, including in Europe and Japan
Successfully hosted the 5th Summit of the Americas and the Commonwealth Heads
of Government meetings and so established Trinidad and Tobago as a significant partner in world affairs, and a leader in the region Increased our score on Human Development
Index (HDI) of the United Nations, which is a measure of the quality of life in a
country, from an HDI of 0.802 in 2001 to an HDI of 0.837 in 2007, and climbing
Increased the balance in our Revenue Stabilisation Fund, which now stands at $19.5 billion
Maintained stability in our exchange rate. Experienced growth in the tourism industry,
saving the jobs of the thousands who service this area, even as a worldwide recession crippled tourism in the region Acquired a range of new military assets to assist in the fight
against the international drug trade and crime, including offshore patrol vessels, fast patrol craft, interceptors, armed helicopters and radar systems.
Managed to maintain affordable food prices even as the world reeled under global
food inflation .Significantly improved the quality and capacity of our road network
Ramped up the delivery of affordable housing for low income earners Reduced inflation
on a year-onyear basis from 11.7% in February 2009 to 4.8% in February 2010
Initiated large scale food production that is already delivering high quality food at competitive prices Broadened the range and quality of public transport options to
include a high grade and reliable water taxi service between our major cities and
a luxury coach service and a modern air conditioned bus service on over 115 routes throughout the country 10 PNM PEOPLE’S NATIONAL MOVEMENT
In 2002, the Vision 2020 Planning Committee was appointed, to spearhead the preparation of a National Strategic Plan. The Committee comprised representatives from all the major segments of the society including the public and private sectors, labour, academia and civil society as well as international development agencies.
28 Sub-Committees, comprising over 600 individuals, were established to undertake the preparation of subject-specific reports and to engage in discussions on national development issues.
Thousands more citizens were engaged in a process of consultation. In the end, over 80 such consultation exercises were effectively undertaken to produce the Vision.
Consistent with our Vision 2020 objectives, the PNM is unwavering in its determination that by the year 2020, Trinidad and Tobago shall be:
Our Vision – Developed Country Status by 2020
A united, resilient, productive, innovative and prosperous developed nation With a disciplined, caring, fun-loving society Comprising healthy, happy and well-educated people and built on the enduring attributes of self-reliance, respect, tolerance, equity and integrity In which:
Every citizen has equal opportunities to achieve his/her fullest potential All citizens enjoy a high quality of life, where quality healthcare is available to all and safe, peaceful, environmentally friendly communities are maintained.
All citizens are assured of a sound, relevant education system tailored towards the needs of a modern, progressive, technologically advancing nation
The family as the foundation of the society contributes to its growth, development and stability .The diversity and creativity of all its people are valued and nurtured.
There is respect for the rule of law and human rights and the promotion of the principles of democracy Optimum use is made of all the resources of the nation
To achieve this Vision, we focus on 5 Development Pillars:
Under the PNM, using these 5 pillars, all Government Ministries and State Agencies are mandated to develop policies and programmes to achieve our Vision of developed
country status on or before the year 2020. Progress is measured by Vision 2020 Status Reports and Operational Plans, prepared and developed every 3-4 years.
WE ARE THE ONLY POLITICAL PARTY IN THE HISTORY OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO THAT HAS EVER ARTICULATED SUCH A COMPREHENSIVE AND FAR-REACHING VISION FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COUNTRY.
In the context of Vision 2020, the PNM Government has carefully designed our social programmes to allow recipients to be included in the wider economic activities
of the nation. These include:
• an enabling environment for large, medium and small
businesses to be competitive, both locally, regionally
and internationally.
• a very wide range of free education and training
opportunities for citizens to advance themselves and
help make Trinidad and Tobago a developed nation
on or before the year 2020.
• a comprehensive housing programme to increase
the number of our citizens owning their own homes.
With these social programmess and services, citizens
who were previously excluded from the wider national
development programs and activities now have a
greater chance to advance and be included.
Developing Innovative People
Nurturing a Caring Society
Inabling Competitive Business
Investing in Sound Infrastructure and Environment
Promoting Effective Government
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS, PROGRAMMES AND POLICIES
The Macro-economy EDUCATION: THE PATHWAY TO A SECURE FUTURE
• Since December 2001, almost 85,000 sustainable net new
jobs were created; increasing the total number of employed
persons from 514,100 in 2001 to 598,200, or almost
600,000, in 2009, the highest ever figure in the country’s
history. At the same time, the unemployment rate, on an
annual basis, was reduced from 10.8 percent in 2001 to 5.0
percent in 2009, close to the lowest annual unemployment
rate on record of 4.5%, which was achieved in 2008.
• The poverty level was reduced significantly during the last
9 years
• The rate of personal income tax was reduced to a flat
rate of 25 percent in 2006. At the same time, the personal
income tax allowance was increased to $60,000 per year,
which removed 300,000 income earners from the tax net
• VAT and customs duties were reduced or eliminated on
a large number of food items to address the rising food
prices
• The rate of corporation tax was reduced to from 35
percent to 25 percent in 2006
• Foreign direct investment in Trinidad and Tobago
exceeded US$12 billion by 2009
• The progressive and enlightened policies of the PNM
Government enabled growth in our country’s Gross
Domestic Product from $55 billion in 2001 to $144 billion
in 2009, with GDP peaking at $163 billion in 2008, or three
times the 2001 figure
• Prudent fiscal management enabled a significant reduction
in both the public and external debt ratios. Our Debt to
GDP ratio fell from 55% in 2001 to 31% in 2009, with a low
of 25% in 2008. Our Gross External Public Sector Debt fell
from 20.1% of GDP in 2001 to 7.8% of GDP in 2009, with
a low of 5.8% in 2008, which was well below the majority
of countries in the world, including both developing and
developed countries
• Our net foreign reserves increased more than five-fold,
from US$1.8 billion (TT$11 billion) in 2001 to over US$10
billion (TT$63 billion) in 2009, peaking at US$11 billion
(TT$70 billion) in February 2009, representing almost one
year of import cover in 2009, well above the global average
• A Heritage and Stabilization Fund was established in 2007
to help cushion the impact of declining revenues during
periods of economic downturn and to provide a heritage
for future generations. Despite the difficult global economic
circumstances of the last year, we did not touch this Fund in
2009. Today, savings in the Heritage and Stabilization Fund
amount to TT$19.5 billion, or US$3.1 billion. We intend to
increase this Fund to TT$30 billion over the next five years
OUR VISION IS TO DEVELOP WELL
ROUNDED INNOVATIVE INDIVIDUALS
WHO WILL BE SOCIALLY INTEGRATED
AND ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AS A
RESULT OF A SOUND AND CAREFULLY
DESIGNED EDUCATION SYSTEM
The PNM Government has continuously improved our strong tradition of educational excellence, initiated with the advent of the PNM in 1956, by designing and implementing a modern and relevant education system that fashions the young minds of our nation into creative and critical thinkers. Through our equitable and innovative programmes, we have ensured that every citizen gets an opportunity to attend school, and to
improve his or her social and economic status. Some of our education objectives include:
• Expansion of our Early Childhood Care and Education
Programme.
• Refurbishment and upgrade of existing schools and construction
of new schools where required.
• Equipping and outfitting of schools with modern equipment,
information and communication systems.
• Revision of the Primary and Secondary school curriculum.
• Teacher development and training.
• Testing and certification.
• Integrated student support services including the provision
of nutritious meals, books and transport.
What have these interventions done for you?
Over 280,000 students in Early Childhood Education Centres (27,500 students), Primary Schools (140,000 students) and Secondary Schools (115,000 students) are assisted by the polices and programmes of the PNM Government every day, as follows:
• Expansion of Early Childhood Care and Education
Programme - Students aged three to four years old are exposed to a stimulating learning environment, where well trained teachers create well adjusted children, able to function at the primary school level both academically and socially.
• Refurbishment, upgrade and construction of schools – Under the PNM, over 400 schools have been repaired or upgraded and 30 new schools constructed. Next term will see the completion of 20 new secondary schools, as well as a number of new primary schools, and 600 Early Childhood Education Centres.
• Equipping schools with modern information and communication systems – Over 400 schools have been provided with modern ICT infrastructure and other equipment that makes learning easier and contributes to the goal of increased computer literacy among our citizens. This process will continue.
• Revision of the Primary and Secondary school
curriculum – A modern and relevant curriculum
has been developed to address both foundational
learning as well as creative thinking. Curriculum
reform will continue.
• Teacher development - A well trained cadre of
teachers has been produced to impart life skills
to our nation’s children and to motivate them to
achieve their personal best in the pursuit of the
highest levels of educational excellence. This programme
of training will be accelerated in the next
term.
• Integrated student support services –
Barriers to achieving academic excellence have
been removed, through the provision of free meals,
free books, free transport and counselling. Through
the progressive and caring policies of the PNM,
approximately 300,000 students per year benefit
from these free public education support services.
This student support system will be deepened and
strengthened during our next term.
MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER TO BUILD
OUR NATION THROUGH FREE AND
FLEXIBLE ACCESS TO TERTIARY EDUCATION
OUR VISION IS TO CREATE AN
ENVIRONMENT THAT ENCOURAGES OUR
PEOPLE TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION
AND BECOME RESPONSIBLE ENLIGHTENED
CITIZENS MOTIVATED TO CONTRIBUTE TO
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Your PNM Government has created a free tertiary learning environment that is unequalled anywhere in the world, and has made the pursuit of tertiary education in Trinidad and
Tobago attractive, accessible and affordable, with academic qualifications that are internationally recognized. Under the caring hands of the PNM, no person is denied the opportunity to further their studies, regardless of their status. The Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education and its agencies, such as the University of the West Indies (UWI), University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), Trinidad and Tobago
Hospitality and Tourism Institute (TTHTI) and the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT), have contributed to this objective. They have expanded their programmes, creating a diverse portfolio and various modes of teaching, including on-line, distance, part-time, open campus, and evening programmes.
This diversity in programming seeks to widen access to citizens at varying stages of life and work. The PNM Government has made access to higher education totally flexible
and affordable to all. Some of the innovative higher education programmes of the PNM include:
PNM Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses Programme
(GATE)
Point-of-Care
Testing
Human resource development
Clinical programmes
Health Education Programmes
Institutional strengthening
Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT)
Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP)
Scholarship Programme
What have these interventions done for you?
Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses Programme
(GATE) – This Programme ensures that all of our citizens can access tertiary education despite personal financial constraints. This initiative can be regarded as the “GATEway”
to tertiary education for all, so that “no-one shall be left behind”
The PNM recognizes that for our country to progress, more and more of our citizens must be encouraged to improve their knowledge and skills through higher education. The
number of persons enrolling in higher education programmes in Trinidad and Tobago has increased fivefold since 2001, almost 45% of our student population is now pursuing
higher education, up from about 9% in 2001. Consistent with our Vision, our target for tertiary education enrolment is 60% of the population, which we expect to achieve long before the year 2020. Since its inception in 2004, over 275,000 applications
have been approved for GATE at a cost in excess of TT$2.5 billion, which we consider to be money well spent.
GATE affords access without the burden of tuition fees. And for the related costs, such as accommodation, airfare, living expenses, book, special equipment and so on, there is
HELP. Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) - This is a special loan facility made available to students at approved tertiary institutions. One of HELP’s objectives is to develop a well educated, qualified cadre of citizens within areas identified
as critical under Vision 2020. Since inception, over 8,000 persons have received loans under HELP. Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago – ensures access to the highest quality of education, recognised nationally and internationally, through a process of registration, accreditation and recognition. The Council safeguards the nation’s investment in tertiary education and makes GATE-assisted private tertiary education providers accountable and transparent.
Scholarship Programme – rewards excellence and facilitates further the pursuit of tertiary education for outstanding, well rounded young people. Under the PNM, over 400
of our brightest and best students are awarded scholarships every year, with hundreds more receiving bursaries. Building our nation: Widely accessible, flexible and affordable
tertiary education has a central role in nation building through the following:
• Development of human capital and entrepreneurship and access
to education for ALL, so that there are no limitations to what any
citizen can achieve.
• Ensuring that all our citizens attain highly recognized programmes
of education.
• Development of an appreciative and responsible citizen who participates
in and helps to sustain a nurturing and caring society.
• Nurturing of enlightened, motivated people to become innovators
and entrepreneurs to drive manufacturing, business enterprises
and public institutions to first world levels of product and service
delivery.
HEALTH
The PNM is committed to building for Trinidad & Tobago a health care delivery system that is modern, efficient, people-centred and comprehensively customer- based. Significant strides have already been made in this regard within the last eight years and we will continue with the same vigour. The transformation of the health care sector will continue to focus on the development of nine core dimensions:
Leadership; Institutional strengthening; Skill development and availability; Infrastructure and Services of which the Hospital Strategy is critical; Information and Communication Technologies; Quality Service; Key Stakeholder Commitment; Sustainable Financing; and Continuous Development and Improvement.
Ensuring equity and universal access to health care is a key public policy of the PNM and to achieve this, we will:
• Strengthen our primary health care network in a
sustainable manner. Since 2001, the PNM Government
has been building the infrastructure to achieve
a world class health system. Over the past two years in
particular, we have completed 14 new primary health
care facilities, which will take us to the 2015 target
by the end of 2010! Our construction programme is
complemented by our mobile health caravans in rural
communities, thus ensuring fair and equitable access
for all. We have established voluntary testing, counselling
and treatment for HIV/AIDS patients nationally
and strengthened the immunization, maternal and
child health care programmes. School children are
now the beneficiaries of vision and screening tests in
addition to the provision of hearing aids if required.
Our health care programmes include:
What have these programmes done for you?
• Initiation of Point-of-Care Testing. A new initiative of the
PNM is the provision of point-of-care testing which will allow
diagnostic test results to be given to doctors within half an
hour, thereby enhancing patient management. This is being
rolled out nationally.
• Acceleration of our Health Education Programmes.
This PNM Government has received positive international
recognition for the Port-of-Spain Declaration on Non Communicable
Diseases (NCDs). We have introduced Caribbean
standards for Diabetes, Asthma and Hypertension into the
management of our Chronic Disease Programme, as well as
a multisectoral Advisory Committee on Non Communicable
Diseases. We have successfully passed and implemented
the Tobacco Control Act. We have a policy on healthy eating
and have engaged the major stakeholders in promoting
a healthy lifestyle. In the next 5 years we will specifically focus
on establishing healthy public policies on issues such as
workplace wellness, smoking cessation, healthy foods, and
violence and injury prevention, while deepening and widening
our school health programme.
• Human resource development programmes for the
public health sector, geared towards attracting and retaining
local talent and continuously training local resources to better
serve the needs of the population. Progress in this area
has already been achieved through bursaries/scholarships,
seminars, workshops and conferences, as well as technical
assistance from the Pan American Health Organization. So
far we have increased the number of nurses trained to almost
2,000, and raised the intake of medical interns by 156%.
• Institutional strengthening, with emphasis on accountability
and performance measurement for the Ministry of
Health and the Regional Health Authorities.
A Five Year Business Plan is in place for the transformation
of the Health Sector from 2008 to 2013. Training and
organizational development activities and an IT plan
for the development of Health Information Systems are
also ongoing. We have invested $65 million in computer
hardware for the public health sector, which will lead to new
positive experiences in health care delivery.
• Build and strengthen our clinical programmes,
including:
Chronic Disease Assistance Programme (CDAP)
through which citizens are provided with medication free
of charge for the treatment of several diseases, including
diabetes, hypertension, cardiac disease, depression,
glaucoma and others. 575,000 people have benefitted
from our free medication (CDAP) service up to the end
of 2009, with 255 participating pharmacies, 51 drugs
available, and 11 chronic diseases covered.
Adult Cardiac Programme, developed to assist those
unable to afford cardiac procedures. In 2009 alone, almost
1,000 free cardiac procedures were performed.
School Health Programme, through which over 13,000
students received hearing screening and 30,000 students
received vision screening.
Free Surgery Programme, which has reduced the
backlog of patients and has significantly reduced the
waiting time for surgery. The programme includes cataract
surgery, fibroid embolization, orthopaedic surgery,
prostate surgery, kidney stone removal, haemorrhoid
removal, and knee and hip replacements, as well as
diagnostic procedures such as Echocardiograms, CTScans,
Angiograms, X-Rays, Ultrasound and MRIs.
Medical Aid programme, which provides financial
assistance to the elderly, children and other financially
challenged persons. In 2009 alone, medical aid grants
were given to over 2,000 persons. Access to modern
cancer treatment for hundreds of our citizens is also
provided through this programme.
Renal Dialysis programme, providing life saving services
at both public and private institutions. A contract has
been awarded to a private hospital to build, operate and
transfer two 200-bed dialysis centres, in North and South
Trinidad.
Organ Transplant Programme, which is accessed
every year by hundreds of people. In 2009 alone, 14
kidney transplants and 31 surgical fistulae access for
haemodialysis were performed.
• Oncology programme – The National Radiotherapy
Centre has been modernized and now provides radiation
and chemotherapy services to our cancer patients. The
National Oncology Centre, which is to be located at Mt.
Hope, is out for tender.
The PNM will capitalize on these achievements and work assiduously on its key long term priorities for the health sector, including:
A 10-Year National Hospital Construction Programme.
New hospitals will be built in Arima, Sangre Grande and
Point Fortin. The Port of Spain General Hospital will be
rebuilt and two new hospitals will be established from
the reorganization and conversion of the Eric Williams
Medical Sciences Centre. A new San Fernando General
Hospital will be constructed at a new location along the
Solomon Hochoy Highway, to serve South and Central
Trinidad.
The EHealth Card. A key enabler of the NHS is the
eHealth card. This card will give users access to a
secure online system, containing patient demographics,
accounting information and medical records The
introduction of the eHealth card will be pilot tested in
Siparia, St, Joseph, St. James, Morvant, Oxford Street,
San Fernando, Chaguanas and Canaan, Tobago and with
a continuous roll out thereafter.
The National Health System. The PNM Government
will commence the implementation of its National Health
System within the next 5 years. The State will maintain
financial responsibility for the provision of an essential
basket of services to all citizens and ultimately every
citizen will be able to exercise their choice of heath care
provider, whether in the public or private sector.
SOCIAL SERVICES
OUR VISION IS TO CONTINUE TO ERADICATE POVERTY AND CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE
INCLUSIVE SOCIETY
Under successive PNM Governments this nation has experienced improved delivery of social services to vulnerable citizens. The PNM, through a careful understanding of our society, has sought to improve the quality of life of citizens on the margins due to illness, disabilities, social circumstances and poverty. The PNM Government has embarked on a series of social sector interventions.
What have these interventions done for you?
TACKLING POVERTY
• The Targeted Conditional Cash Transfer Programme
(TCCTP) aims to eradicate poverty by offsetting the effects
of high food prices among the poorest members of society.
Further, its conditions encourage recipients’ family members
to pursue personal development and to ensure that their
children’s wellbeing and education are given priority. The
TCCTP was launched in 2006 and since then, over 32,000
persons have benefited.
• The Establishment of Social Displacement Centres,
including those at Piparo and at Riverside Plaza, Port of
Spain, has created safe and civilized spaces for the socially
displaced and has reduced the number of these persons
returning to live on the streets.
• The Poverty Reduction Programme aims at helping
families to emerge from a life of poverty permanently.
Relevant community based projects are assessed and
monitored through the 14 Regional Social and Human
Development Councils (RHSDC) in each of the municipal
areas of the country.
• The Micro Enterprise Training and development Grant
(MEG) assists needy clients – incuding victims of domestic
violence, probationers and welfare recipients - to undertake
small business ventures or engage in skills training. The
Programme also provides grants to Community Based
Organisations (CBOs) to conduct skill development projects
to carefully targeted individuals.
• The Micro Enterprise Loan Facility (MEL) is available to
persons who have accessed the MEG and require additional
assistance to invest in their micro-enterprise to help grow
and sustain their business venture.
• The Multipurpose Community Based Telecentres
provide training and are used for a number of purposes such
as research, and social networking and e-mailing activities
that are important to sustainable micro businesses.
• The Social Services Grants seek to assist underprivileged
members of society, by providing financial support to
citizens who are unable to earn a living, persons who are
unable to work or have little means of financial support and
guardians of children with special needs. Such programmes
include Public assistance, Disability assistance and Senior
Citizen’s Grant (Old Age Pension). These funds go a long
way to ensure these families eat nutritious meals daily and
have basic needs met.
• The Senior Citizen’s Grant (formerly the Old Age
Pension) provides relief to those of our senior citizens who
have limited income or no income at all. Since December
2001, the PNM has increased this Grant by over 200%,
from $800 per month in 2001 to the current level in May
2010 of $2,500 per month. The latest increase from $1,950
to $2,500 per month represents an increase of almost 30%.
Over the last 8 years, we have also increased the National
Insurance Pension by 100% from $1,000 to $2,000, and
increased the combined income from NIS and the Senior
Citizens Grant from $1,800 in 2001 to $3,550 per month
in 2010, or an increase of almost 100%. The minimum
public service pension will now also be increased to
$2,500, consistent with PNM policy. These substantial
increases are testimony to the caring nature of the PNM.
This will never change.
EQUITABLE SOCIETY
• Under the purview of the Ministry of Social
Development, the Disability Affairs Unit promotes
programmes, practices and attitudes which encourage
the full inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in all
spheres of life; sensitises the public about issues pertaining
to PWDs; and provides technical support for physically
challenged persons and their families.
• In 2009, 19 special “accessible buses” were operating
in Trinidad and two in Tobago. These buses are specially
equipped for the use of and access by PWDs. Additionally,
in every regular bus, four seats are reserved for PWDs.
• The minimum wage was enforced in order to further
promote equity within our country.
• The disability grant was increased to $800 per month,
with a reduction in the minimum age for recipients to 18
years, and the public assistance grant was increased to
$1,090 per month for a family of 4.
BUILDING OUR NATION
The following is a summary of some of our core social
services interventions:
• The Targeted Conditional Cash Transfer Programme
(TCCTP), which aims at helping households address
vulnerabilities and achieve sustainable livelihoods. For
the conditional component of this programme, focus is
on building skills and training programmes.
• Social Displacement Centres have been established
at Piparo – the New Horizons Centre and in Port of
Spain – The Centre for Socially Displaced Persons at
Riverside Plaza.
• Beneficiaries of the Micro Enterprise Training and
development Grant (MEG) include victims of domestic
violence, probationers and welfare recipients.
• Beneficiaries of the Micro Enterprise Loan Facility
(MEL) include micro-entrepreneurs, unemployed
persons and recipients of Public assistance.
Food Support -
Targeted Conditional Cash Transfer Programme (TCCTP)
Establishment of Social Displacement Centres
Poverty Reduction Programme
Social Services Grants, including Senior Citizens’ Grants
NATIONAL SECURITY
OUR VISION IS HAVE A SAFE AND SECURE T&T
The PNM Government of Trinidad and Tobago has embarked on a number of initiatives to ensure that our country becomes a safe and secure place to live, visit, do business in and raise our families.
The Citizens’ Security Programme
The Specialist Crime Academy
The construction of new Police Stations
The introduction of a Border Integrated Management System and Machine Readable
Passports
Reducing Gang Violence and Activity
Improving our Disaster Management capabilities
The Special Anti-Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago
The Establishment of a Crime and Problem Analysis Unit (CAPA)
Strengthening the Forensic Science Centre
Commissioning and immediate use of fast patrol vessels
What have these interventions done for you?
• The Citizens’ Security Programme (CSP) has as its
overall goal to reduce the levels of crime and violence in
our country by improving our efforts to prevent, counteract
and control factors associated with criminal acts and
violence.
• The Special Anti-Crime Unit (SAUTT) is currently in its
sixth year of operations and continues to focus on three
main areas. i. strengthening national forensic capabilities;
ii. providing developmental training for law enforcement;
iii. lending operational support to the Police Service and
other law enforcement agencies.
• The Specialist Crime Academy To date, over 500
SAUTT Officers have received training in areas such as
Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Awareness and DNA,
Investigative Interviewing and more.
• The Crime and Problem Analysis (CAPA) Unit was
established in 2007 and continues to improve the capacity
of the Police Service to gather accurate and timely
information on crime and undertake in-depth analysis.
• Gang Violence and Activity. An international
Comprehensive Gang Model has been applied, leading to
computerized information systems and improved analysis
and mapping procedures; and to the establishment of a
Repeat Offenders Programme Task Force (ROPTF),
responsible for identifying street gangs, their membership
structures and turf.
• The Forensic Science Centre continues to play a
significant role. Of critical importance is the installation of
a modern DNA Laboratory, adding this state of the art
methodology to our crime-fighting capacity.
• New Fire Stations. To provide effective fire fighting and
emergency service to new communities, new fire stations
were constructed at Piarco, Sangre Grange and Couva
South. The functional requirements of 12 other stations are
being finalized in order to commence construction.
• New Police Stations. Over the last two years, police
presence has been much enhanced by the construction
of 5 Police Stations and 3 Police Posts. Moreover, 19
new Stations are scheduled for communities throughout
Trinidad and Tobago.
• The Introduction of an Integrated Border Management
System is equipping nationals with travel documents that
reduce exposure to identity and passport fraud. Machine
Readable Passports have been introduced to ensure
hassle free travel. To date over 350,000 citizens have been
issued with new Machine Readable Passports. The waiting
time for a new passport has been reduced to 12 working
days.
• Disaster Management. The Office of Disaster
Preparedness and Management has provided training to
relevant partners in such areas as: Damage Assessment and
Needs Analysis, Shelter Management, Medical Response,
Mass Casualty Management, and Search and Rescue.
Its public education campaign continues to sensitize the
population on necessary measures in the event of an
emergency or disaster.
Dealing with Illegal Drugs and Guns
The PNM Government recognizes that a major concern of our citizens is the levels of crime and violence plaguing our country. But we also need to understand its causes. Our location has made us a trans-shipment point for illegal drugs between the supplier countries of South America and the consuming countries of North America and Europe. To address and eliminate this problem, the PNM Government has taken the necessary steps to stem the flow of drugs and guns into our country – in particular with the acquisition of the following Coast Guard vessels over the last 2 years:
• 6 30-metre Fast Patrol Craft with speeds of over 40 knots;
• 2 46-metre Coastal Patrol Vessels; and
• 14 Fast Interceptor Craft with speeds of up to 50 knots
This brings the total compliment of armed Coast Guard vessels to 28, a 300% increase from when we assumed office in 2001. Now, we can match the speed and manoeuvrability of virtually any vessel that operates illegally in our waters. This is by far the most significant expansion/upgrade in history of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard. And that is not all. The final pieces in our naval arsenal will be the three 3 No. 90-metre Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) which we have acquired through a Government-to-Government arrangement with the United Kingdom. These vessels each
have the capability to carry over 100 men and stay out at sea for several weeks, with a range of several thousand miles. When they are commissioned and put into service,
together with our other military vessels and the armed helicopters that are now in production, these sophisticated military vessels will make Trinidad and Tobago virtually impenetrable to drug traffickers.
The first of these OPVs is already undergoing sea trials in the UK and is due to arrive in Trinidad and Tobago in September 2010. OPV 2 is and scheduled to arrive in mid November 2010, and OPV 3 in March 2011.
Further, for the first time in our nation’s history, we can now deploy our naval assets
based on the 360-degree radar system coverage. Our investment in the Coast Guard has already begun to disrupt the drug flow into the country. For the first quarter of this year 2010 alone, 1,650 kilos of marijuana and 35 kilos of cocaine have been seized, and another 2,750 kilos of dumped marijuana recovered. The war against illegal drugs and guns will continue in our next term. It represents a major strike against crime in this country. Your PNM Government will not waiver or flinch from these responsibilities.
PUBLIC UTILITIES
OUR VISION IS TO FULLY DEVELOP OUR PUBLIC UTILITY
SECTOR TO PROVIDE EFFICIENT, COST EFFECTIVE, QUALITY
SERVICES TO OUR CITIZENS
The PNM Government of Trinidad and Tobago has resolved to ensure that the population has access to potable water and an electricity supply in the most efficient and cost effective manner. The Ministry of Public Utilities has already implemented a number of programmes, including;
The Water and Wastewater Master Plan
National Street Lighting Programme
Expansion of Power Generating Capacity
Rural Electrification Programmes
Lighting of Parks and Recreation Grounds
What have these interventions done for you?
• The Water and Wastewater Master Plan seeks to
increase access to water supply, improve leak management
and upgrade the wastewater and sewerage systems. At
present 95 percent of the population has access to potable
water; an increase from 2007 figures. Through the National
Social Development Programme (NSDP), WASA was able
to bring relief to 77 percent of the targeted communities
who were receiving water for less than 3 days per week.
WASA has also acquired new leak detection equipment ,
resulting in a significant decline in the incidence of leaks
over the last 3 years.
• Through the Rural Electrification Programmes, the
Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC)
was able to significantly increase the number of persons
accessing electricity to more than 97 per cent of our
population. Under the NSDP, 100 electrification projects
were completed during the period 2008 to 2009, which in
turn benefited almost 400 households.
• Expansion of Power Generating Capacity. T&TEC
continues to expand its service in order to facilitate the
growing demand for power. T&TEC will increase power on
the national grid by an additional 768MW during 2010. In
Tobago, the new dual-fuel 48MW generating plant has been
completed and commissioned, bringing our total capacity
up to 1,656MW. This will be further increased to 2376MW
by 2010/2011 when Trinidad Generation Unlimited (TGU)
commissions the 720MW plant that is currently being
constructed at Union Estate.
Additionally, T&TEC continues to improve its service
to customers. In 2008, T&TEC responded to 25,200
‘trouble reports’ with an average response time of 2 ½
hours. Moreover, since that time over 14,000 new service
connections were made with 96 per cent of these completed
in the same day.
• Through the National Street Lighting Programme,
there has been a significant number of
achievements:
• Over 84,000 new 150W High Pressure Sodium
(HPS) streetlights were installed at the end of 2009
• Over 10,000 electricity poles erected
• 50,000 existing 70Watts Street lights upgraded
• 6,500 luminaries (street lights) installed to illuminate
165 km of our nation’s highways
The National Street Lighting Implementation Unit also continued work related to the lighting of parks, recreation grounds, public spaces, the grounds of health facilities,
police stations and transit hubs.
HOUSING
OUR VISION IS TO PROVIDE
ADEQUATE AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING FOR THE CITIZENS OF
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
• It is a matter of record that the current PNM Government’s housing construction programme is second to none. The provision of affordable public housing has
been a key part of the social development policies of the People’s National Movement since 1956. We have provided homes for families in Mt Hope, Mt Lambert,
Diamond Vale, River Estate, Malabar, Bon Air Gardens, Couva, Chaguanas, La Horquetta, Morvant, Laventille, Belmont, Port of Spain, Princes Town, San Fernando, and
Santa Cruz, to name just some of the areas. Through the Housing Development Corporation, thousands of families have been given quality housing, which they could not
have afforded otherwise. Some of the specific programmes that have been
introduced and implemented include;
• The Accelerated High Density Housing Programme
• The Rent-to-Own Programme
• New Home Subsidies
• Housing Grants
• The Second National Settlements Programme
• Community Facilities on Housing Estates
• The Accelerated High density Programme was introduced in 2003 in response to the 6-year period of idleness/inactivity in housing construction by the former administration. Since the inception of the Accelerated Housing Program, construction of over 25,000 housing units has commenced. (It is to be noted that the administration of 1996 to 2001 commenced construction on less than 500 houses). Under the PNM, housing units
are now located at over 100 sites throughout Trinidad and Tobago. These areas are developed with ‘green sites’ to accommodate playgrounds, schools and commercial
centres.
• Work continues on approximately 64 housing project
sites with over 6,000 housing units expected to be
completed and allocated by June 2010.
•In keeping with the New Town concept of creating
self-contained housing developments across the
country, construction of 1,200 housing units continues at
Wallerfield. Three more New Towns are earmarked for
La Brea, Princes Town and Chaguanas. The Chaguanas
project is almost complete.
• The Tobago House of Assembly has been involved
in the construction of houses in four areas; Roxborough,
Blenheim, Castara and Adventure Estate in Plymouth. To
date, a total of 240 houses has been constructed in these
areas.
• The Rent-To-Own Programme was introduced to assist
low income households who, notwithstanding the very low
interest rate of 2% interest, are still unable to satisfy the
requirements of a mortgage arrangement. The guiding
principle of this caring programme is to enable citizens
to obtain their own home, starting at a rental rate in the
interim, with the long term objective being to purchase
your home.
• New Home Subsidies are provided to persons who
have annual incomes of less than TT$65,000 and intend
to purchase a new home costing less than TT$195,000.
Beneficiaries are given up front subsidies of either
TT$35,000 or TT$50,000 depending on their income level.
In Tobago, this programme is aimed at assisting legal land
owners who wish to construct a new home but do not
have the funds needed to make a down payment in order
to obtain a mortgage with Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage
Finance (TTMF).
• Housing Grants include the Home Improvement Grant
and the Home Improvement Subsidy. The Grant targets
households experiencing financial difficulties in generating
savings because of lower income. Additionally, the subsidy
programme also targets a low income threshold while
encouraging and rewarding savings. In fiscal 2009, 695
homeowners received home improvement grants and over
800 qualified for subsidies. Senior citizens and vulnerable
families are fast-tracked.
• The Second National Settlements Programme is a
programme assisted by the Inter-American Development
Bank. Since 2002 the Land Settlement agency (LSA) has
embarked on a number of projects aimed at regularizing
squatting. In 2009, a number of communities, including
Factory Road and River Estate, Diego Martin, Bon Air
North, Arouca and KP Lands, have begun the process of
moving to have title to the lands on which they live.
The LSA has been engaged in improving conditions for
families living in informal housing settlements on State
Lands, providing basic services and upgrading infrastructure
such as roads, electricity, water, drainage and sewer facilities.
This is what we mean by taking care of our citizens.
WORKS AND TRANSPORT
OUR VISION IS TO DEVELOP FIRST-WORLD
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT EMBODIES THE HIGHEST
STANDARDS OF QUALITY, AESTHETICS AND
FUNCTIONALITY
The PNM Government is committed to providing the nation with a world class infrastructure. The Ministry of Works and Transport has a pivotal role to play in achieving this. Here are some of its many initiatives:
National Highways Programme (NHP)
Construction, Management and Maintenance of Roads, Bridges and Highways and
Improvement in Road Access Air Transport Infrastructure
Development Modernisation of the Licensing Office Trinidad Rapid Rail Transit Project
Government Shipping Services
- Fast Ferries
Modernisation of our motor vehicle and traffic laws
East/West Corridor Transportation Project – the Interchange
Bus Fleet Renewal Programme (PTSC)
North-South Coastal Water Taxi Service
Comprehensive Drainage Development Programme
What have these interventions done for you and what
will they do for you in the future?
• The National Highway Programme (NHP) .
is designed to cater for the upgrading of our road
infrastructure through the construction of new highways.
Because investing in sound infrastructure is one of our
Vision 2020 Pillars, the PNM Government has been
spending over 8 percent of our GDP on infrastructure
development and we will continue to do so in our next
term. Our National Highways Programme is in three
phases and involves the construction of a new highway
grid, as follows:
PHASE 1
• San Fernando to Mayaro Freeway
• San Fernando to Point Fortin/La Brea Highway
• Wallerfield to Manzanilla Highway
• Caroni to Piarco Highway, from the Uriah Butler
Highway
• Port of Spain to Chaguaramas Causeway
• Curepe to Princes Town/Rio Claro Highway
The new highways are being designed to international
freeway standards and comprise both new 6-lane
carriageways and widening of existing 2-lane carriageways
to 4 lanes. Tenders have already been invited from
reputable international contractors for the first 3 highways
in phase 1. Construction is expected to commence on
the first 3 highways before the end of 2010 and the next
3 in 2011. These 6 new highways are scheduled to be
substantially complete by the end of our next term.
PHASE 2
• A First Class Road/Tunnel from Curepe to the
North Coast
• Sangre Grande to Toco Highway
• Blanchisseuse to Toco Highway
• Penal to Guayaguayare Highway
• Moruga to Princes Town Highway
• Manzanilla to Mayaro Highway
When this new highway grid is complete, no part of
Trinidad will be more than 2 hours away from any other
part of Trinidad by road. Citizens will be able to travel
from Cedros to Toco or Mayaro to Chaguaramas in ease
and comfort.
East/West Corridor Transportation Project –
the Interchange
• The PNM Government is acutely aware of the significant
loss in man-hours and productivity caused by delays on
the Nation’s highways. Hearing the plight of the people,
the PNM Government constructed an Interchange at
the Nation’s busiest intersection, the intersection of
the Churchill Roosevelt and Uriah Butler Highways,
(something a previous Government had failed to do in
its 6 years in office). The construction of this impressive
structure has brought Trinidad and Tobago’s highway
structure squarely into the 21st century.
• This modernisation continues along the Churchill
Roosevelt Highway with the construction of a flyover at
Aranguez, now underway at full speed. Its completion
will make it possible to drive from Port-of-Spain to San
Fernando without encountering a single traffic light. The
PNM Government’s future plans involve flyovers and
overpasses at Valsayn, UWI, Macoya, Trincity and beyond.
Construction, Management and Maintenance of Roads,
Bridges and Highways and Improvement in Road Access
Through the Programme for Upgrading Roads Efficiency
(PURE), the PNM Government has undertaken over 3,500
road improvement projects at an approximate cost of $TT
3.7 billion. No area of the country has been, or will be, left
out. In addition to the systematic and sustained upgrade
of thousands of roads and bridges all over Trinidad and
Tobago, some notable projects include;
Widening and upgrade of the Churchill Roosevelt
Highway from Port-of-Spain to Trincity to 6 lanes.
Completion of the dualling of the Churchill Roosevelt
Highway from Arima to Wallerfield, now underway.
➢Widening and upgrade of the Uriah Butler Highway
from St. Joseph to Chaguanas to 6 lanes.
Widening and upgrade of Wrightson Road to 6 lanes.
Construction of pedestrian overpasses at Diego Martin,
Barataria, Curepe and Carlsen Field, among several
other areas.
Construction of 50 new highway-grade bridges.
• Bus Fleet Renewal Programme (PTSC)
• Through its Fleet Renewal Programme (PTSC), the
PNM Government has made our public transport system
second to none in the Region. Between 2001 and 2010,
the PTSC’s fleet of buses has been increased from less
than 100 in 2001 to 421 in 2010. These acquisitions have
resulted in a significant expansion of service - a 300%
increase from 2001.
• Coastal Water Taxi Service – For the first time in the
modern era, a fast water taxi service between Port of
Spain and San Fernando was established in December
2008. Citizens can now travel in comfort by sea between
San Fernando and Port-of-Spain in less than one hour,
for just $15. Over 400,000 passengers have been safely
transported thus far and 4 new vessels are scheduled
to arrive from Australia in September 2010, New routes
between Port-of-Spain and Diego Martin and San
Fernando and Point Fortin will then be added.
• The Trinidad Rapid Rail Transit Project - the Trinidad
and Tobago Rapid Rail Transit will further revolutionise
transport in this country. The project involves two express
train lines, one from UWI St. Augustine in the North to San
Fernando in the South; the other from Sangre Grande in
the East to Diego Martin in the West. The air-conditioned
trip from Port-of-Spain to San Fernando will take less than
half an hour. The service will utilize double-decker electric
trains, capable of 700 passengers, at a top speed of 160
kmph.
• Government Shipping Services - Fast Ferries -
The PNM Government has also revolutionized the inter
island ferry and sea transport system. The acquisition of
two modern fast ferries has reduced the travelling time
between our two islands to 2 ½ air-conditioned hours.
A new Government Shipping Service Ferry Terminal
Building was constructed in 2007, allowing
accommodation for approximately 500 passengers. Cargo
capacity on the GSS has also been significantly increased
with the lease of the Warrior Spirit.
• Air Transport Infrastructure Development - significant
upgrade of our nation’s airports has been achieved over
the last 8 years. The Piarco International Airport runway,
taxiways and parking areas were completely rehabilitated
to international standards, as was the aircraft parking
ramp at Crown Point. Tobago’s international arrival
and departure facilities were also upgraded. The South
Terminal at Piarco was upgraded for use as an Executive
Jet Facility and served the country with distinction during
the Summit of the Americas and the CHOGM. During
our next term, the upgrade of our airports will continue
apace with the creation of an aviation industry park and of
a modern new terminal building in Tobago, among many
other projects.
• Modernisation of the Licensing Office – a Governmentto-
Government arrangement with the Province of Nova
Scotia, Canada is creating a new system of drivers’ permits
and motor vehicle registration, as well as a Motor Vehicle
Authority. By September 2010, citizens will be able to
renew of a drivers’ permit in no more than 15 minutes.
• Modernisation of motor vehicle and traffic laws –in
recognition of a general culture of lawlessness on our
roads, the PNM Government has over the last 5 years
modernised the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act.
The Breathalyser was introduced in December 2009
and has already had a dramatic effect on the incidence
of accidents and fatalities. 2010 also saw increases
in penalties for reckless driving, speeding and other
offences. The PNM Government has made Trinidad and
Tobago a safer place for our families to drive in.
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT, CULTURE
AND GENDER AFFAIRS
Our vision for culture is ensuring that:
• The rich diversity of our culture is an engine of
economic growth, innovation, and creativity which
brings our people together.
• Our history and local art forms are preserved and
protected.
• Our creative people are provided with state of
the art resources that would stimulate growth and
development.
Our vision for community
development is
• to create communities that are well integrated,
nurturing and supportive
Our vision for gender affairs is
• that all citizens are included in national socioeconomic
development that there are no barriers to
opportunities because of gender
The PNM Government’s focus on culture is in recognition
of the important role that culture plays in nation
building, patriotism and self expression. The diversity
of our culture is unique and has great socio-economic
potential. The emergence of new art forms as a result
of this diversity has proven to be an emerging source of
revenue and new innovative products and services. The
aim is create the facilitating environment and support
systems that with assist this sector to grow and develop
as a new source of revenue, sustainable employment and
academic/artistic training.
The PNM Government understands the role that
communities play in nation building. Living in
communities requires that we act as our neighbour’s
keeper, the community must be a place that brings
out the best of our values, and they represent the
environment where we want to live, nurture and
recreate.
Ensuring that all citizens participate in national
development is critical to the gender framework. There
will be no barriers to opportunities based on gender.
The Ministry of Community Development, Culture and
Gender Affairs leads in the effective delivery of initiatives
with other key institutions as the University of Trinidad and
Tobago, Intellectual Property Office, and Tobago House of
Assembly through a number of initiatives including:
Development and
Expansion of the
Export Centres
Academies for the
Performing Arts
Support for the
Carnival and other
festivals
Establishment of
new museums
Refurbishment
of Theatres and
Performing Arts
Centres
Support to
Indigenous groups
and cultural
orgainsations
Tobago Heritage
Festival
Construction
of Community
Centres
What have these interventions done for you?
• Development and Expansion of the Export Centres –
These Centres serve as an avenue for young entrepreneurs
to develop new products in the craft industry and facilitate
export. It is a particularly attractive area for niche craft
products as home furnishings, textiles, leather craft and
natural jewelry.
• Refurbishment of Theatre and performing art centres
– venues as the Queen’s Hall and the little Carib Theatre
are being upgraded and refurbished to provide modern
facilities for the performing arts community. These
facilities are available to the arts community for local and
international productions.
• Academies for the Performing Arts – Two state of
the art Performing Academies are being constructed; the
North Academy was opened in November 2009 while
work on the South Academy is ongoing. These Academies
offer international standard facilities that will attract both
local and international performers. They will also act as
institutions for learning in the area of performing arts to
be delivered by the University of Trinidad and Tobago.
• Support to Indigenous groups and cultural orgainisations
– financial and technical support are given to ensure
the preservation of our native peoples and our cultural
history.
• Support for the Carnival and other festivals – the
diversity of ours festivals gives opportunity to effectively
showcase to national, regional and international communities
our talent and history. Effective marketing and delivery
of a world class tourism and business product is supported
by the PNM Government.
• Tobago Heritage Festival – the unique culture of
Tobago is supported and showcased as a world class festival,
nurturing traditions as well as serving as an emerging
and sustainable tourism product.
• Establishment of new museums, historical sites – Storage
of historical artifacts, and recoding our rich history
ensures that we develop pride in our nation’s past and
preserves this history for future generations.
• Construction of Community Centres – to create a neutral
space for members of the community to meet, learn,
and recreate.
STATUS OF WOMEN IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF VISION 2020.
The status of women in Trinidad and Tobago compares
favourably with many middle income developing nations.
The equal rights of men and women are guaranteed
under the 1976 Republican Constitution and the PNM
Government remains committed to promoting gender
equity and equality. The overarching National Policy
Framework is Vision 2020. Gender equality was identified
as integral to this process.
In the United Nations’ 2009 Gender Empowerment
Measure (GEM), Trinidad & Tobago appears at number
14 among the 195 Nations of the World. The Global
Economic Forum Report for 2008 and 2009 has ranked
Trinidad and Tobago at position 19 in its Gender
Empowerment Index. This is the highest rank for any
country in this Region. Other significant achievements in
this area include:
• The advancement of gender sensitive institutional
arrangements, e.g. PNM Government’s tax incentive
of $500,000 for the provision of child care facilities at
the worksite and child care facility at the Ministry of the
Attorney General
• Introduction of gender aware facilities within public
and private buildings i.e baby changing areas in public
rest-rooms and breast-feeding areas at job sites e.g
Ministry of Finance .
• The development of programmes aimed at increasing
understanding of the value of housework and
other forms of unremunerated work, e.g. the Food
Preparation, Fine Dining and Home Management
course for males by the Gender Affairs Division.
• Commitment to greater levels of gender balance in
power and decision-making at all levels and sectors,
including Governmental bodies. Increased appointment
of females to State and Para-State Boards.
• Trinidad and Tobago has a solid legal framework
supporting gender and workplace issues, including laws
relating to Sexual Offences, Minimum Wages, Counting
of Unwaged Work and Maternity Protection. Among
recent legislation are the following:
40 41
• The Occupational Safety and Health Amendment Act
of 2006;
• The Homes for Older Persons Act of 2007,
• The International Child Abduction Act 2008,
and the Children Authority Amendment Act, 2008.
• Women’s overall participation in national leadership
and decision-making has increased. In fact, women’s
political participation is currently at a historical high,
closely approaching and in most instances outstripping
international benchmarks. Trinidad and Tobago’s current
situation as reported by the United Nations Human
Development Report 2009 is as follows:
Seats in Parliament held by women 33%
Women in Ministerial positions 36%
Female legislators, senior officials and managers 43%
Female professional and technical workers 53%
Women have held many non-traditional portfolios,
including Deputy Speaker of the House of
Representatives; Attorney General and Minister of
Finance. Women have also acted as President and Prime
Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
• Employment among women has grown. The labour
force registered 628, 400 persons at the end of the 4th
quarter 2006, representing 353,000 men and 236,900
women. As a result of the solid macro-economic
management, women’s employment status has been
improving overall.
• Enrolment and success rates at both secondary and
tertiary levels have shown significantly higher levels
for females. At the secondary level, the 2007 CXC and
CAPE results have shown females have outperforming
boys in all areas except Mathematics. At the tertiary
level, the past five years have seen a steady increase
of females in traditionally male-dominated areas like
law, medicine and engineering. In 2008, of the 10,740
students registering, 66.2% were female.
• There is increased access to health care services,
including testing for HIV/ AIDS and other lifestyle
diseases i.e Prevention of Mother to Child HIV/AIDS
Transmission Programme, in which free Anti-retroviral
treatment is given to pregnant HIV positive women.
• The Women in Harmony Programme, was designed
to address unemployment among women between the
ages of 26 and 45 who are single heads of household
with low/no skills and income. An onsite child care
component was also added to the Programme, The
Non-Traditional Skills Training Programme for Women
also provides technical/vocational training in several
areas. This has resulted in an increase in the number
of women employed in the construction industry and
others.
• Increased participation by
females in community development
processes including cultural
development and sport. The past
decade has seen increases in the
number of female pannists, female
athletes and women in the formal
and informal business sectors.
• There has an increase of over
100% in the budgetary allocation to
the Gender Affairs Division over the
past five years, strengthening the
promotion of gender equality and
women’s empowerment.
• The PNM Government has
remained committed to the
eradication of violence against
women and contributes annually
to the Inter-American Convention
on the Prevention, Punishment and
Eradication of Violence against
Women” Convention of Belem do
Para” (MESECVI) and the United
Nations Development Fund for
Women (UNIFEM). Moreover, the
National Domestic Violence Hotline
(800-SAVE) was maintained and
upgraded.
• We have published a Draft
National Gender Policy as a Green
Paper and invited comments from
stakeholders and interest groups,
so that appropriate adjustments can
be made before it becomes official
Government policy.
42 43
• Specific policies have been designed for identifying
and honing world class athletes for this country’s
representation at international level.
• Your PNM Government envisions a youth sector
that is healthy, knowledgeable and skilled, possessing
positive values and participating in all aspects of national
development.
What have our interventions done for you?
During 2009, the PNM Government continued its initiative
to foster a sports culture in order to provide citizens with
sporting and recreational opportunities.
• Sporting and Recreational Activities – we have
upgrading sporting infrastructure at the community level
and increasing the range of sporting programmes. In just
the last two years alone, we have constructed 17 new
Community Recreation Grounds, 12 Hard Courts and 13
Lighted Jogging tracks.
• The Elite Athletes Assistance Programme (EAAP)
increased the success rate of our athletes at international
competitions. In 2008, 22 athletes under the EAAP
qualified for and competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
in the Sporting areas of Athletics, Swimming, Rifle
Shooting and Table Tennis.
• Development of regional and sub-regional grounds
– 15 sub-regional grounds and 5 Regional Grounds will
attain international standards - cricket and football fields,
a jogging track, a pavilion and floodlighting and many
other facilities. Over 200 other recreation grounds and
community facilities all over Trinidad and Tobago will be
upgraded to first-class standards in our next term.
• Community Programmes The “Learn to Swim”
Programme encompassed 71 Schools nationwide.
• The Women and Girls in Sport Festival was held in
March 2009. This pioneering festival drew approximately
840 women and girls to participate.
• Health and Physical Education Curriculum To
encourage success at International Games, a Task Force
has been established to develop talent from primary
participation up to the elite. A Preliminary Report has
been submitted to the Task Force.
• Tobago has embarked on a number of new projects,
including such competitions as the Tobago Primary
School Relay Festival, Tobago Primary School Tennis
Championship, Tobago Primary School Mini Volley Ball
Championship, Sport Aid Grant for Schools, Tobago
Secondary School Relay Festival and the Tobago
Secondary School Tennis Championship.
• World Class Sporting Facilities By constructing a
sporting infrastructure capable of hosting international
events, the country will reap direct economic benefits and
enhance its image as a global destination. A programme
to establish such facilities was initiated in 2008. The PNM
Government approved the construction of the National
Aquatic Centre at Mt. Hope, National Tennis Centre
at Tacarigua and National Cycle Track at Mucurapo.
Construction is anticipated to commence in 2010.
FOCUS ON YOUTH
Our youth is our future. Your PNM Government has
focused attention on this crucial sector, with an emphasis
on helping ‘At Risk Youth’. Here are some examples.
• The National Life Skills Curriculum for Personal
Development and Employment Enhancement focuses
on the personal and social development of our nation’s
youth and is designed to prepare them to function more
effectively within professional and social settings.
• The period of July 1st to August 12th was designated
National Youth Month. Activities included: Bring a Youth
to Work, Business Persons Forum, Elect a Youth, National
Youth Rally and more.
• The National Youth Awards, held on August 12th 2009,
recognised youths who have excelled at various vocations.
A National Youth Survey was also launched to determine
the motivations, interests, passion and needs of young
people, with particular reference to ‘At Risk Youth’.
• The Youth Resources for Implementing Successful
Enterprises (YouthRISE), is another programme which
seeks to help ‘at risk’ youth with their personal and social
development. It provides a package of viable options to
support business start up and self employment.
SPORT AND YOUTH AFFAIRS
OUR VISION RECOGNISES AND EMBRACES SPORT AS
A POWERFUL TOOL FOR PROMOTING GOOD HEALTH,
DEEPENING COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND NATIONAL PRIDE,
AND CREATING VIABLE BUSINESSES.
• The Specialised Youth
Service Programmes (SYSP)
under the stewardship
of the Trinidad and
Tobago Defence Force
and including the Civilian
Conservation Corps (CCC),
The Youth Programme
for Apprenticeship and
Reorientation Training (MY
PART) and the Academic
Training Programme
(MILAT), all seek to help ‘at
risk’ youth with personal
and social development.
• Youth employment
remains a priority of
the PNM Government.
Thousands benefitted from
Scheduled Programmes
such as the Youth
Training and Employment
Partnership Programme
(YTEPP); the Multi Sector
Skills Programme (MuST);
the Helping Youth Prepare
for Employment (HYPE)
Programme; and the
Retraining Programme
(MSTTE). Furthermore,
the On the Job Training
programme provides over
6,000 youths per year with
hands on experience in the
world of work. The Youth
Apprenticeship Programme
in Agriculture (YAPA) even
offers career training in this
vital field.
44
PNM PEOPLE’S NATIONAL MOVEMENT
45
The Ministry of Public Administration (MPA) has been
charged with the duties of promoting the use of ICT
among the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. The world
around us is changing and this PNM Government has
taken the decision to pursue the highest world ratings in
ICT usage, so that our citizens can access the systems and
skills to benefit from advances in this area, in particular
to engage with and do business with the public services.
In an effort to achieve this goal a number of initiatives/
programmes have been implemented. They are as follows;
• The Library Net Programme
• Knowledge, Innovation and Development (KID)
Programme
• Implementation of the National Broadband Action
Plan
• Government Communications Backbone Project
• ttconnect
• B2B eMarketplace
What have these interventions done for you?
• The Library Net Programme facilitated by the National
Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) has as
one of its features to outfit all libraries in the country with
computers and internet access. As at June 2009, 100 per
cent of libraries in T&T were equipped with computers
and free internet access through this programme. These
systems facilitate research and continuous learning for
many of our citizens right in their communities.
• The Knowledge, Innovation and Development (KID)
Programme, is aimed at equipping all schools with
computers and internet access to facilitate uniformity of
education, improving overall educational standards and
allowing students and teachers to work collaboratively. In
2008-2009, 339 primary schools and 11 special schools
were provided with networked computer laboratories and
approximately 600 primary school teachers were oriented
in the use of computers and ICT in education. In order to
ensure the goal of widespread connectivity in the primary
and secondary education systems 190 primary schools and
125 secondary schools were connected to the internet.
Additionally, to assist the students in the utilization of
technology, 778 primary and 532 secondary school
teachers were trained in basic network administration in
2008 alone. This training will continue apace in our next
term.
• The National Broadband Action Plan has brought
about wider access to broadband services and high speed
internet access. It has spearheaded the drive to infuse the
use of ICT among individual citizens as well as business.
Internet services have evolved over the last few years and
subscribers now have access to both fixed and mobile
service features. In 2008, an estimated total of 224,000
persons subscribed for internet service, a 28 per cent
increase from 2007. There are now 13 Internet Service
Providers available to the population.
Additionally, two new international submarine fibre optic
cables landed in Trinidad, thereby effectively tripling the
offshore bandwidth capacity. This caused a reduction in
retail and leased line broadband prices for citizens.
• Government Communications Backbone Project,
GovNeTT, provides a secure platform for “joined up”
Government. It serves to facilitate communications and
information sharing among Government agencies and
departments, by providing basic connectivity services such
as email (audio, video and text), emessaging, escheduling
and internet access over a Wide Area Network (WAN).
At present, some 20 Ministries, 230 Divisions and
approximately 10,000 users are connected to the
backbone. This project will result in significant time saved
by citizens when doing business with the public service.
• Through ttconnect online the e-Government Portal
Project, information pertaining to 400 Government
services is currently available via www.ttconnect.gov.tt.
These new services include access to application forms for
the On-the-Job Training and Multi-Sector Skills Training
Programmes as well as Scholarships.
Furthermore, in order to increase access to Government
online services, several Service Centres were successfully
launched. In 2008, two centres were opened in Princes
Town and St. James and approximately 8800 applicants
had accessed the services offered by these Centres. In
2009, four locations were opened in Arima, Chaguanas,
Tunapuna and Bon Accord in Tobago. Cumulatively 25,000
transactions were processed at the Service Centres.
Complementary to the Service Centres is the Self-Serve
kiosk. The kiosks are intended to provide access to
services via the e-Government Portal on a 24/7 basis.
They allow payment for services by Credit and Debit
Card. They also have the capability to allow “phone-in”
to appropriate departments for queries on services. They
are currently at Piarco International Airport; Gulf City
Mall, Lowlands Tobago; Gulf City Mall, La Romaine; Hi
Lo Supermarket, Point Fortin; and the ttconnect Service
Centre at Gaston, Chaguanas.
• In an effort to further advance e-Business within our
country, the Business Development Company (BDC)
e-marketplace website has expanded over the last
couple years. A total of 885 companies are registered
and conduct business online. The website acts as a
business portal which provides information on business
locally and internationally.
Building our nation
• Through the Library Net Programme persons have
been given the opportunity to use computers and access
the internet. Citizens who wish to, can now do internet
research at all the nation’s libraries. For families who
are unable to afford computers, it has been provided
for them in a safe facility where they can learn together.
Integration of the Internet into the school programme
has resulted in students leaving school with a high level
of capacity in the use of ICT.
• The National Broadband Plan plays its part in getting
the country connected. Now more citizens can access
internet services. The vast amount of information online
can only help citizens grow in knowledge, creativity and
enterprise.
• The Government Communications backbone is an
immense accomplishment. It has allowed officers
in the service to access information readily and to
communicate easily across Ministries and agencies.
This has resulted in an increase in productivity. It has
facilitated an increasingly paperless system which in turn
helps the environment.
• The e-marketplace promotes trade - export sales
and business development. It will thus help us diversify
and expand our market and customer base through
showcasing our products regionally and internationally at
a significantly reduced cost.
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION/ICT
OUR VISION IS TO BE AN INTER-CONNECTED,
TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED, SOCIETY WITH MODERN
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS DRIVING
INNOVATION, GROWTH AND SOCIAL PROGRESS
46 47
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
REFORM
The PNM Government recognizes that despite many
attempts at improvement over the years, citizens are simply
not getting the level and quality of service that they deserve
from Local Government Corporations. We are determined
to change this radically and fundamentally.
The Way Forward
• The Ministry of Local Government is guided by the Vision
2020 pillar of promoting good and effective governance,
espousing principles such as accountability, transparency,
participation and predictability. This means building robust
institutional structures that empower all citizens to participate
in the decision making processes.
• We have taken cognizance of international best practices.
These include those accords and benchmarks arising out of
recent Commonwealth Local Government Forum meetings.
Here, strategic planning for the development of sustainable
communities and good practices for local democracy were
widely discussed and agreed upon.
• After widespread stakeholder consultation, we have
published a White Paper on Local Government Reform in
Trinidad and Tobago, which highlights some of the measures
and programmes we would implement to realize our Local
Government Reform policy objectives, including:
➢
What does this mean for you?
We believe that our proposed new Local Government
System will herald a new era in Local Governance and
participatory democracy in Trinidad and Tobago, bringing
more efficient corporate and Municipal Management;
expanded coverage and enhanced quality of service
delivery; easier access to services through a robust
interactive e-Government platform; the realignment
of boundaries in accordance with changes in natural
geographic configuration, population growth and regional/
urban migration trends; the reconfiguration of the local
Government geographic profile for balanced sustainable
development and easier access to services through the
establishment of four cities, one borough and seven
regions. In addition, it will mean safe, secure and peaceful
communities through effective community policing.
In this regard, the necessary planning and preparatory work
for this reform exercise is virtually complete; the drafting
of new legislation has been done, and it is thus the PNM’s
intention to move swiftly to initiate the reform of the Local
Government System early in our next term, and to hold Local
Government elections under the new system in this year
2010. We believe that under the new system, citizens will
enjoy vastly improved services from Local Government
Corporations.
ENERGY
The energy sector of Trinidad and Tobago continues to
have direct relevance to the future economic growth
and sustainable development of the economy of this
country, since it accounts for almost 50% our GDP. The
PNM Government’s objective is to maximize our revenue
potential from the energy sector, to create and distribute
wealth for the benefit of our population. In energy, the
platform for our further development is being carefully
constructed and with the widest possible involvement
designed to create activity in the sector. Our focus at this
time includes:
• The revised Fiscal terms designed to stimulate
activity
• The priority use of gas resources
• The ability of Petrotrin to boost local oil production
and;
• Our renewable energy agenda.
The Government has completed the review of the fiscal
system and is at this time awaiting comments from the
industry.
➢We have reviewed the contractual arrangements that will
be offered under future competitive bid rounds as well as
the tax/royalty arrangements. We have concluded that the
Production Sharing Contract remains our preferred form of
arrangement.
Our new PSC will be similar to the 1995/6 models in which
companies were allowed to evaluate their risks and offer
an adequate share of Profit Petroleum. This is intended to
reduce some of the inherent risks and encourage potential
investment.
Emphasis will be placed on those areas and activities
where incentives for revitalization and sustainability are
required, such as in the mature offshore oil acreages
and on land where enhanced oil recovery projects are
undertaken.
These incentives will directly impact on the Supplemental
Petroleum Tax rates that will be payable by companies and
thus provide companies with additional financial flows to
re-invest in the upstream sector.
This new regime will address small, mature fields and
tail-end production and will allow for a situation intended
to encourage new investment while allowing current
production levels to be sustained.
Looking to the future, the PNM Government will continue
to review our gas sector development plans and our
updated priorities for gas development are as follows:
• Allocate gas for new approved projects including
Alutrint, Essar Steel and Gas to Polypropylene.
• Allocate for existing plants and their future needs for
defined periods.
• Debottlenecking of the current LNG trains
• Dealing with ammonia and related downstream
facilities which must be part of any proposal
While we recognise that oil production has been on the
decline and the country has become more gas based, we
shall encourage a mix that is more balanced.
Petrotrin will have an important role to play in delivering
on this objective and we have challenged its leadership
to organise in such a way as to support this requirement
for increases in oil production. We anticipate that gains in
production volumes will be realised from this initiative.
Petrotrin also has been mandated to develop a program
for the efficient and effective management of the Trinmar
asset. Petrotrin has also applied a 3D seismic programme
to its assets in the North West District and API’s
Oropouche farmout area of South Trinidad and expects
to complete a survey by December 2010. The survey is
intended to guide the future exploration on land and is
intended to result in the identification of more oil drilling
locations.
Renewable Energy
The PNM Government is developing a renewable energy
policy for Trinidad and Tobago which should be available
for public comment shortly. We are in the process of
developing a framework for partnering with the United
States through its Department of Energy (USDOE) in the
development of a Renewable Energy Research Centre
and a Framework for Partnership under the Energy
and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA). The
Partnership was first announced at the Fifth Summit of the
Americas in Port of Spain, where President Obama invited
all countries of the Western Hemisphere to be a part of a
united effort in this critical area.
The Renewable Energy Research Centre will provide an
excellent opportunity to broaden our joint activities while
building needed capacity in the region.
The key strategies developed and deployed by this
Government for the current and long-term vibrancy of
the gas sector revolve around the deliberate selection
of a mix of gas-consuming projects which will provide
diversification, balance and maximum value-adding
potential for our economy.
AGRICULTURE
OUR VISION IS TO REVAMP THE
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AND INCREASE
PROFITABILITY THROUGH A FOCUS ON
AGRI-BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND TO
ACHIEVE FOOD SECURITY
Diversification of the economy continues to be a
priority of the PNM Government of Trinidad and
Tobago. Before oil and gas there was agriculture, and
agriculture remains a top priority, particularly given
the prevailing economic conditions, the challenges of
climate change and the recent drought. Agriculture
plays a significant role not only in terms of economic
diversity but also in poverty reduction programs and
educational opportunities. In 2009 the agriculture
industry in Trinidad and Tobago grew by 27.5%.
To build on this growth we have embarked on the
following key initiatives:
• Agricultural Access Roads Programme
• Youth Apprenticeship Programme in Agriculture
(YAPA)
• NAMDEVCO Development Activities
• Grow Box Development
• Agricultural Land Information System and
Inventory of State Lands
• Establishment of Agriculture Settlements in
Trinidad
• Creation of Large Commercial Farms
What have these interventions done for you?
• As at August 2009, through the Agricultural Access
Roads Programme 8.42km of roads were rehabilitated,
at locations including Leekham 226 Road, off Mamoral
Road, Dennis Trace, Moruga, and La Reunion Estate.
A further 7.5km of roads and one bridge in Trinidad
have already been designated for 2010.
• Youth Apprenticeship Programme in Agriculture
(YAPA) continues to be a fruitful programme for
young persons wishing to be involved in agriculture. It
is available in two geographic jurisdictions in Trinidad,
the North and South Regional Administrations.
• To date the National Agricultural Marketing
and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO)
has established seven strategically located Farmers’
Markets throughout Trinidad. These bring cheaper
prices for consumers and farmers are encouraged to
produce more since they have a ready market for their
produce. Plans for opening a market in Tobago are
under review. The Corporation continues to produce a
monthly bulletin on the agriculture sector. Information
on prices of selected commodities is also published
in the newspaper. The National Agricultural Market
Information System (NAMISTT) as well as their
48 49
50 51
website, www.namistt.com, also provides a wide range
of information with respect to agricultural prices and
produce.
• The Grow Box Development programme is an
intensive form of cultivation geared to households with
limited yard space. It is environmentally sustainable and
would assist in the nation’s drive to food and nutrition
security.
• Improvements to the State Agricultural Land
Information System (SALIS) continue. Based on
the information collected, approximately 1452 new
agricultural leases for 4686 acres of land were allocated to
persons occupying and actively cultivating State lands, for
the period 2004 to July 2009. In May 2008 all agricultural
lands were transferred to the Estate Management
Business Development Company Limited (EMBD).
• The Establishment of Agriculture Settlements in
Trinidad provides services in agricultural communities
such as desilting and construction of access roads, which
reduces the loss of crops to flooding in such areas. In
Regional Area North (RAN), approximately 68 km of drains
and irrigation channels were desilted, while at Regional
Area South (RAS), there was desilting of approximately
15.45km.
•The Creation of Large Commercial Farms is pivotal in
supporting the PNM Government’s efforts to accelerate
the transfer of modern farming technologies to small
farmers. To date some 29 farmers have already benefited
from training at the PCS Nitrogen Model Farm and
Agricultural Resource Centre. When fully operational,
these farms will extend their outreach to farmers
throughout the country and provide training in such
invaluable areas as fertilizer management, greenhouse
production methods, direct marketing, computer literacy,
agro-environmental technology, storage, handling and
marketing strategies, agricultural economics, agricultural
finance, business planning for farmers, crop diversification,
basic equipment maintenance, soil management, soil
sampling testing and irrigation technology.
What have these interventions done for you?
• The Development of Industrial Estates and Business
Parks facilitates the growth of light manufacturing
industries and activities in the non-energy sector. Some
of the new industrial parks facilitate opportunities
downstream the energy sector and accommodate
businesses that will support the heavier industrial activity
that is also being encouraged.
• The Tamana InTech Park (TIP) will provide a nurturing
environment, conducive to the realization of business
synergies and the successful development of new types of
businesses. It promotes a knowledge-driven economy that
will create sustainable industries and provide enlightened
job opportunities for hundreds of highly skilled citizens of
Trinidad and Tobago.
• The Establishment of a Research and Development
Facility has provided financial support to the private
sector for cutting edge, innovative research and
development projects. It assists business enterprises in
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has embarked on
a series of initiatives that will enable businesses to flourish
in an environment that is conducive to their growth and
enhances their competitive edge. The Ministry of Trade
and Industry (MTI) has been championing this area and has
implemented a number of initiatives aimed at achieving
this Vision. Some of these include;
• Development and Upgrade of Industrial Estates
and Business Parks
• Tamana InTech Park
• Establishment of a Research and Development
Facility
• e-Business Development
• Establishment of the Trinidad and Tobago
International Financial Centre
• The Single Electronic Window (SEW) Programme
• Development of Creative industries
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
DIVERSIFYING OUR ECONOMY
OUR VISION IS TO CREATE AN ENABLING
BUSINESS CLIMATE
TO TRANSFORM TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
INTO A DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY WITH
EXCITING GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES THAT
ATTRACTS INVESTORS AND ENCOURAGES
COMPETITIVE BUSINESSES TO
START AND GROW
the non-energy manufacturing and services sectors in
adopting new technology and developing innovative
systems and processes.
• In the facilitation of e-Business Development, the
Business Development Company (BDC) has launched the
smeXchange website, an online business-to- business
portal aimed at providing real-time access to essential
business information.
• The Establishment of the Trinidad and Tobago
International Financial Centre (TTIFC) forms part of the
diversification effort at the Port of Spain International
Waterfront Centre. It will build the country’s profile as
a world-class provider of financial services and serve as
a gateway to opportunities in the Caribbean and Latin
America. Furthermore, the TTIFC will create a broad set
of financial services-related employment opportunities,
offer attractive career growth with long-term potential
to the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago and serve as a
training ground to develop our local human capital.
• The Single Electronic Window (SEW) Programme is
an electronic ‘one-stop-shop’, where private stakeholders
and approving Government agencies can collaborate
to process necessary permits and approvals online in a
seamless and efficient manner. Put simply, it aims to make
Customs, importation and business registration more
efficient, thus impacting positively on the price of goods
to consumers and reducing costs to businesses.
• Through the Development of Creative industries,
Trinidad and Tobago can foster innovation and creativity
within our society. The Entertainment and Film industries
are two of the seven priority industries targeted in the
diversification thrust and provide new opportunities
for business development, expansion and job creation.
It is in this context that the Trinidad and Tobago
Entertainment Company Limited (T&T Ent) and the
Trinidad and Tobago Film Company (TTFC) were
established.
52 53
FINANCE
OUR VISION IS TO MAINTAIN AND
ADVANCE A PROGRESSIVE, STABLE
AND GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE FINANCIAL
SYSTEM THAT MOVES TRINIDAD AND
TOBAGO TOWARDS BECOMING THE
FINANCIAL CENTRE OF THE REGION.
In spite of the global economic downturn, this PNM
Government has been able to maintain its macroeconomic
stability. Not taking this for granted, the PNM
Government has innovated to put measures in place to
maintain a strong economy. These measures are also part
of the PNM Government’s larger drive towards enabling
competitive business, for which economic stability is a
necessary condition. They include:
• The Heritage and Stabilisation Fund
• Financial Sector Reform Initiatives
• National Financial Literacy Programmes
What have these interventions done for you?
• The Heritage and Stabilisation Fund (HSF) was
established in March 2007. Its purpose is to save and
invest surplus petroleum revenues in order to act as a
buffer and generate an alternative income stream in
periods of revenue downturn, while providing a heritage
for future generations. As international markets improve
there will be improved returns on investment and
increased Government deposits, hence increasing the
Fund’s value.
• The Financial Sector Reform Initiatives are aimed
at improving the efficiency and stability of the financial
system. The proper legislative and regulatory framework
must be put in place to provide the flexibility and
incentives desired by the business community. As part
of this drive the Financial Institutions Act (1993) and the
Securities Industry Act (1995) were revised and updated.
• The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT)
is currently spearheading the National Financial Literacy
Programme which was launched on January 31, 2007. Its
objectives include improving the financial literacy of the
population to facilitate better financial decision-making.
They are currently preparing to conduct sessions for
schools (primary, secondary and tertiary), retirees, the
differently-able, and those interested in starting a small to
micro enterprise.
Building our nation
• The size and status of our HSF reinforces this PNM
Government’s achievement in maintaining economic
stability despite recession in the global financial market.
The HSF ensures that Trinidad and Tobago is in a better
position to manage and mitigate the negative effects of
a global financial meltdown. It will ensure that the needs
of the citizens are met in spite of the global situation.
It should be noted that the target level of the HSF set
for 2010 was surpassed by July 2008. Additionally,
throughout the economic crisis no funds were drawn
from the HSF while all social services were continued and
some increased so that our most vulnerable citizens in
Trinidad and Tobago did not experience hardship during
the crisis.
• The Financial Institutions Act and Securities Industry Act
are the cornerstones in the upgrade of the regulatory, tax
and legal framework of the Financial Sector. The passage
of these laws also involves the improvement of standards
of governance. As a result of this the financial sector is
more refined and attractive for local and international
stakeholders, which will capture the interest of serious
investors. Greater investment will bring benefit to all
citizens through increased opportunities for financing
business, job creation, increased revenue and more
competitive business.
• The National Financial Literacy Programme helps to
make our citizens knowledgeable and skilled in personal
financial planning, budgeting and money management
in addition to increasing the awareness of the population
about the financial products and services at their
disposal. A more financially prudent society will aid in
the advancement of the entire nation as each person
makes more informed choices.
• In our next term, in order to facilitate business and
make Trinidad and Tobago even more competitive, we
will continue to reform our taxation system, with the
objective being to reduce personal and corporate
income tax even further, to a flat rate of 20%. We
expect that that these reforms will be a strong driver of
our economy.
• It is also our intention, in consultation with
stakeholders, including the Business Sector and Trade
Unions, to continue our work towards the establishment
of a modern Revenue Authority, a statutory authority
which will have responsibility for all functions now
handed by the Inland Revenue Division and the Customs
& Excise Division. We believe that the establishment of
an authority of this nature will create greater efficiency,
increase revenue collections and ensure greater equity
and transparency in the collection of taxes and duties.
• In our next term, we will also make appropriate
modifications to our new Property Tax system, before
implementation, in order to suitably address the
question of relief for persons on fixed incomes and other
vulnerable groups, and the concerns
of stakeholders, such as the business
community. We have already decided
and announced that all persons in
receipt of Public Assistance, Disability
Assistance or the Senior Citizens’
grant (formerly old Age pension) will
be exempt from payment of property
tax, and the PNM Government will
meet the cost of property tax for
these categories of people. We are
also giving serious consideration to
exempting from payment of the tax,
all Senior Citizens who earn less than
$5,000 per month.
54 55
THE JUSTICE SYSTEM
We recognize that our justice system continues to
be in urgent need of reform. The Peoples National
Movement is committed to building capacity and
creating efficiencies in the system which governs the
administration of justice. This task is well underway:
• Within the past year we have enacted legislation
to allow for an increase in the number of High
Court Judges and Judges in the Court of Appeal
by fifty per cent, the largest single increase since
Independence.
• We have enacted legislation to allow for the more
efficient use of technology in court proceedings and
to allow for the more efficient prosecution of criminal
offences.
• We have agreed to increase the number of
prosecutors in The Office of the Director of Public
Prosecutions to allow for the speedier and more
efficient disposition of criminal matters.
We have already identified our priorities for our
next term, specifically those measures that will
ease the flow of cases through the system and
result in a more expeditious delivery of justice.
• We shall streamline the categories of matters which
can be dealt with before a magistrate
• We shall remove from the magistracy those matters
which can be dealt with administratively, such as
certain traffic violations and applications for certain
types of licences.
• We shall remove from the High Court the
resolution of those disputes - and the disposition of
certain matters - which can best be dealt with before
specialized tribunals, such as certain land disputes
and the establishment of title to real property
in certain classes of case. The new systems and
procedures will assist in the resolution of the problem
of titles to property, particularly in Tobago.
• We shall reform the rules governing the conduct of
Preliminary Inquiries in respect of certain categories
of offences.
In the short term the measures we have adopted and
those which we propose will result in quicker court
processes including speedier access to the criminal
justice system. We are resolved to fix our justice
system.
56 57
TOURISM
OUR VISION IS TO MAKE TOURISM INTO A MAJOR
ECONOMIC SECTOR CONTRIBUTING SIGNIFICANTLY
TO THE NATION’S GDP, DRIVEN BY A UNIQUELY
DIFFERENTIATED, INTERNATIONALLY COMPETITIVE
PRODUCT, COMPLEMENTED BY COMPREHENSIVE,
FULLY FUNCTIONAL PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE,
MODERN, COMPETITIVE INSTITUTIONAL
FRAMEWORK AND SUPPORTED BY THE PEOPLE OF
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.
We have ambitious goals for Tourism, mapped out in a
Master Plan that foresees 200,000 direct and indirect jobs
by 2020. Here are the key objectives:
• Employees in the Tourism Sector will have increased
access to training and development on a continuous
basis with the potential for increased income earning
and enhanced standard of living
• The talent of the people of Trinidad and Tobago is a
prime resource base for tourism development – this
talent will be developed and nurtured to provide
creativity and competitiveness to the sector
• A cultural conservation and enhancement approach
that encourages the maintenance of the country’s
unique cultural identity will to be developed
• Citizens, particularly local communities, will become
more involved in the planning and development
of local tourism. Increased opportunities for
entrepreneurship, employment and income generation
will result
• Tourism Education will be enhanced, involving
tertiary level tourism scholarships, encouraging the
introduction of language and technology-oriented
training and postgraduate level leisure, tourism and
hospitality management programmes at the University
of the West Indies
• The establishment of a Tourism Industrial Park,
along with the revitalization of the Port-of-Spain
Waterfront, will position Port-of-Spain as the Meetings
and Conventions Capital of the Southern Caribbean in
support of its existing status as the business center of
the sub region
• We will upgrade Trinidad and Tobago’s existing
room stock to acceptable international standards
and establish a critical mass of new rooms, led by the
luxury 5 star end of the market
• Tobago will continue to receive major levels of
investment in terms of tourism infrastructure,
marketing support and international airlift
58 TOBAGO 59
In Tobago, under a PNM Government, citizens can always
be assured of an environment of integrity and equality, in
order to support efforts to achieve their fullest potential.
Our objectives over the next term include the following:
FINANCE AND ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT
The Cove Eco-Industrial and Business Park – the Future
In our next term, development work at the Cove Eco-
Industrial and Business Park will be completed to ensure
that there are greater opportunities for Tobagonians to
start and expand their businesses. The PNM will establish
the Eco-Industrial Development Company of Tobago to
manage the operations of Cove and ensure that there
is a micro-entrepreneurial complex within Cove. We will
provide incubator services to new businesses at Cove.
Enterprise Assistance
The following are some of our key plans:
• Expansion of the Enterprise Assistance
• Programme to allow for faster processing of loan
applications and disbursements
• Establishment of a special facility to manage the
• Enterprise Assistance Programme.
• Review and revision of our loan policy to improve
the management and coverage of the Programme
• Support for business initiatives of young people
• Training to our clients of the Enterprise Assistance
Programme
• Appropriate staffing of the Business
Development Unit
➢• Promotion of entrepreneurship within
each community in Tobago, including outreach
programmes
Improvement and upgrade of the infrastructure
and security, and marketing of the products and
services, at the Esplanade.
Information Technology
The PNM will expand opportunities for Tobagonians to
enter the IT business and make IT literacy training more
readily available to Tobagonians. We will improve the
access of Tobagonians to information on governance in
Tobago by constant upgrades and improvements to the
211 system.
TOURISM AND TRANSPORTATION
Tourism is the principal activity on which Tobago’s
economy is built. Our goal in the next term is to develop
the soft affects of the industry to ensure that greater
benefits of the infrastructural cost accrue to the society.
• In this regard we would ensure that the Milford Road
Esplanade, which was constructed as an integral part
of the Port Complex, plays its part in entertaining and
exposing the products of the island to the cruise and other
visitors.
• The handicraft industry would be bolstered by
the requisite training to develop the expertise in
manufacturing the pieces in the appropriate dimensions
for take away by tourists.
• Shops in Scarborough will be afforded duty–free status;
and indigenous products would be emphasized, using
motifs that are distinctively Tobagonian. The aim would be
to allow the tourist to obtain a minimum of $100 US per
day pleasure, per capita, from the services we provide.
• The Heritage Festival will be supported and aggressively
promoted
• The bed and breakfast sector will be encouraged.
• The domestic air bridge will be improved with more
available seats and a more reliable service
• Crown Point International Airport will be promoted as a
hub for international air travel between North and South
America, Europe and Africa
EDUCATION, YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORT
One of the major areas for policy intervention, articulated
in the Vision 2020 Strategic Plan, is the creation of a
seamless, self-renewing, high quality education system, in
which every citizen has equal opportunities to achieve his/
her fullest potential. To achieve this in Tobago, there will
be a focus on
• Access to Schools.
• Curriculum Development
• Information and Communication and Technology
• Teacher Education and Development.
In the area of higher education, a campus of the
University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) will be
established in Tobago in our next term, providing
a full range of tertiary education programmes for
Tobagonians.
➢• A Tobago Training Agency (TTA)
will be established
•➢ A comprehensive TVET registry will be
established in Tobago
➢• A Tobago Regional Knowledge Hub will be
established
•➢ The Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute
(THTI) will be maintained and expanded
➢• A campus of the College Of Science Technology
and Applied Arts of T & T (COSTATT)
will be established
•➢ The NESC will formulate and implement
training programmes to meet Tobago’s
industrial needs.
➢• A Technology and Continuing Education Centre
will be established
Sports
The following are our plans for the next term:
• Construction of an Indoor Sports Hall and
Aquatic Centre
• Construction of a Community Swimming Pool
• Lighting of recreation grounds at Canaan/Bon Accord,
Plymouth, Roxborough, Bloody Bay, Calder Hall
• Construction of a multipurpose Centre at Betsy’s Hope
• Construction of pavilions at Mt. Pleasant, Goodwood,
Mason Hall
• Upgrades to Playing Fields at Bloody Bay, Castara.
60
PNM PEOPLE’S NATIONAL MOVEMENT
61
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURE
• Reintroduction of Drama and Dance Festivals in Tobago.
• Reintroduction of the Prime Minister’s Best Village
Trophy Competition in Tobago.
• Initiation of a Best Kept Street Competition.
• Intensification of the teaching of steel band music in
schools/groups and introduction of Homework Centres
in Community Centres.
• Teaching of tambourine (tambrin) playing in schools and
groups.
• Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) – stages
2, 3 and 4.
• Archiving of each community’s history; partnering with
Department of Tourism on village tourism.
Tobago Heritage Festival
• Restoration of historic homes.
• Completion of Shaw Park Cultural Complex for staging
of large and small programmes, including carnival, dance,
drama, and music festivals.
• Construction/renovation of approximately eighteen (18)
community facilities, including pan theatres.
• Construction of Administrative Complex to house the
Division of Community Development and Culture.
• Phase II of Pembroke Heritage Park.
• Community School for the Arts.
• Caribbean Cultural Conference 2009.
• Inter-regional Cultural Exchange Programme.
• Heritage Youth Explosion.
• Junior Heritage School Science Project.
• Maypole Festival 2009.
• Community Development and Culture Theatre Arts
Festival.
• Children’s Theatre for Children Twelve and under.
• Theatre Teens for the Age Group of 12 To 20.
• Theatre for the Family.
• Caribbean Dance Festival.
• Tobago Regional School of the Performing Arts.
• Community Talent Contest (C.T.C).
• In The Gayelle.
• “Carnival Characters Movement, History, Costumemaking
and Wire Bending Workshop” geared towards
Carnival Caravan 2009.
• Season of Joy 2009.
• Gifted Student Programme.
AGRICULTURE, MARINE AFFAIRS, MARKETING AND
THE ENVIRONMENT
Key Agriculture and Related Initiatives for the Artisanal
Fisherman.
We will ensure completion of the following: Charlotteville
Jetty Extension, the new Scarborough Market, Market
facilities at Delaford., Divisional Administrative Building,
Jetty and Fishing Depot at Pigeon Point, the new Castara
Fishing Depot.
We will also oversee: the upgrading of various fishing
depots in Tobago to HAACP standards, construction of
new Charlotteville fishing centre, upgrading of 50 km of
access roads, construction of new Roxborough abattoir,
establishment of two camping sites including one at
Bloody Bay, a cassava production and marketing system
for Tobago, a Speyside Marine Park area for conservation
and research purposes, new Worker and Administrative
facilities at Hope Farm.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
In its next term, your PNM Government has the following
key objectives:
• Extension of Store Bay Local Road
• Construction of overpasses at Wilson Road and Claude
Noel Highway; and at Rockley Vale/Bacolet Connector
Road.
• Dualling and extension of the Claude Noel Highway to
Studley Park and beyond.
• Replacement of bridges at Lambeau River; Thompson
River; Auchenskeoch River.
• Construction of Multi-Storey Car Park
at Gardenside Street.
• Installation of Traffic Signals at Mt Marie and Claude
Noel Highway Intersection; Shirvan Junction; and
Buccoo Four Roads.
• Completion of Scarborough Library; Financial Complex;
and Shaw Park Cultural Facility.
• Completion of Coastal Protection works at: Plymouth/
Back Bay; Black Rock; Old Milford Road.
• Construction of New Licensing Office.
LAND MANAGEMENT
The PNM is acutely aware of the
Tobagonians’ historical and cultural
affinity for land ownership and the
associated benefit that such ownership
can produce. The State is is the largest
landowner on the island, primarily
because a PNM Government ensured
that 13 estates were purchased from
expatriate land owners. The PNM
Government in Tobago has continued
along that path of securing land as
a part of the Tobagonian heritage.
Plans for the utilization of these lands
would be developed with the active
participation of residents of Tobago,
ensuring that due consideration is
given to all potential beneficial uses.
We are also painfully aware of the
difficulties which private owners of land
suffer in relation to titles and tenure
arrangements. The PNM will regularize
this situation in the next term by enacting
appropriate legislation, which is already
drafted, to bring relief to landowners.
Building on the tremendous advances of PNM administrations
since 2001, here is a summary of the next exciting stage in
the development of our remarkable nation. This is no dream.
It is what the PNM, with its pledge to care for every citizen, is
resolved to achieve, among many other things.
• A reformed local Government system that
will deliver services with efficiency and cost
effectiveness even as more quality jobs are created
• The continued enhancement and expansion
of our road network system, that opens up the
country so that no point of travel will be more than
2 ½ hours away from the other
• First-world transportation systems
• A more caring society; respect for the diversity
of our people; equality of treatment for all citizens
• Increased transfers and subsidies for the elderly
and disadvantaged groups
• An improved water production and delivery
system based on plans developed in this period
• A new and improved electricity generation and
transmission system
• A significant reduction in crime, caused by virtual
elimination of Trinidad and Tobago as a transhipment
point for illegal drugs, through effective
deployment of our new military assets
• A sustained focus on the improvement of basic
infrastructure in all areas of Trinidad and Tobago
• Enhanced trading and procurement facilitation
through the introduction of a single electronic
window
• Improved and transparent revenue collection
• An improved, effective and equitable justice
system
• A world class motor vehicle authority that offers
the level of service that meets expectations
• A return to vibrant economic growth and
prosperity, with enhanced returns from our energy
sector
• Reduced personal and corporate taxation
• Growth in our hotel stock to fulfil our destiny as
‘a place where the world meets’
• A transformed, productive and customer-friendly
public service
• World class telecommunications and information
systems
• Acceleration of our national public housing
programme, with delivery of up to 10,000 houses
per year
• A world class primary, secondary and tertiary
education system, free of charge to all citizens
• A vibrant agricultural sector
• A booming manufacturing and commercial sector
• Continued development and expansion of
our tertiary education sector, incentives and
programmes
• Continued expansion of our cultural and
community facilities, and enhancement of
incentives for our artistes and community groups
• Enhancement of our social programmes and
widening of our social safety net
• Programmes that train, develop and reward our
public servants for even better service
• A new national hospital construction programme
and national health service as the basic building
blocks for lasting and improvements in health care
THE NEXT FIVE YEARS ~THE WAY FORWARD
PEOPLE’S NATIONAL MOVEMENT
Alpine wrote:The UNC move smart by letting the PNM display their manifesto so the PNM won't steal the UNC manifesto. Like what martin Joseph did when Kamla said they will put GPS in police cars and then Martin Joseph went and said they going and do that to.
Well done Kamla excellent strategic move here on the UNC part.
However seeing that RASC is tied with the mods and admins on this site and anything we say against the PNM will get us banned since admin and mods is PNM.
Allow me to say Long live the PNM
For great is patrick manning.
I have successfully planted a garden of baliser flowers.
May god give Patrick Manning the health and strength to continue to rule for all eternity.
And may this country one day become just like Haiti for I believe god is good and we cannot say bad things about Haiti because they are people. Everyday I wake up I strive to become a Hatian. I bow and worship the Hatians for they are gods.
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