Trin | Surviving life in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad to fund St. Vincent's new airport.

Trinidad committed to international airport in St Vincent

By Duggie Joseph
Caribbean Net News St Vincent Correspondent
Email: duggie@caribbeannetnews.com
Published on Monday, July 14, 2008
 

Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago has pledged his government’s assistance in helping St Vincent and the Grenadines realize its goal of constructing an international airport.

Manning was invited to Sunday’s ‘ground-breaking ceremony’ for the airport but was unable to attend. However, he sent an official statement, which was read by Hans King, Press Secretary for Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

Manning pointed out that his government had opened a CARICOM Petroleum Stabilization Fund three years ago, the purpose of which was to assist with poverty alleviation and to provide relief in emergency situations.

“In response to a request from the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines for US$10 million to start with the construction of this runway, Trinidad and Tobago decided to establish a special window in the CARICOM Petroleum Stabilisation Fund, to help finance infrastructure development projects and programmes of countries within the OECS (Organization of Eastern Caribbean States), with an allocation of TT$6.5 million per month,” Manning said in his official statement. 

Manning said establishing the special window became necessary, since St Vincent and the Grenadines’ request did not meet the established criteria for accessing money from the Fund. 

(What exactly is the criteria for accessing funds? Do we kiss ass and get $6.5 Million a month? Here we are, poor suffering stupid trinis dying at the hands of murderers, gang wars, imaginary dengue and losing our homes to floods but our Prime Minister's responsibility is to take care of St. Vincent. Neighbourly yes but we all know it's just a grandiose scheme to stroke patos' megalomaniac ego as we trinis need neither poverty alleviation nor emergency measures to combat crime. Perhaps St.Vincent will also send people over to Trinidad to vote for the great PNM in the next election to ensure that they prevail forever! Yay us Trinidadians!)

(Oh, didn't you know a Commonwealth citizen can vote in our elections? The link above states that "A Commonwealth citizen, 18 years of age or older, whom has resided legally in Trinidad and Tobago for a period of at least one year and has resided in an electoral district/constituency for a least two months prior to the Qualifying Date." )

“The Government of Trinidad and Tobago, recognizing the need to commence this project without undue delay, decided to capitalize up front, the funds in the special window by a sum of TT$78 million, that is, an injection of one year’s funding at TT$6.5 million per month,” Manning stated."

Chaos! Floods leave thousands stranded!

Chaos as highway floods Motorists stranded as river breaks its banks - BY RADHICA SOOKRAJ

Flood waters rose on the Solomon Hochoy Highway yesterday, covering cars and trapping motorists as mounds of debris, propelled by swirling floods, swept across both carriageways, creating a massive traffic gridlock.

The Macaulay River burst its banks and motorists were forced to abandon their cars and run for their lives as the waters rose on both lanes. For more than five hours, traffic backed up from San Fernando to the Claxton Bay Flyover on the south lane and Chaguanas to Claxton Bay on the north lane.

A 60-seater PTSC bus, driven by Motilal Arjoon, remained trapped in the waters, while passengers hurriedly evacuated and ran towards higher ground.

Speaking to reporters after the floods, Arjoon said, “Within 15 minutes, everything was under floods. We had ten cars here that were covered with water. I had to call the office and they tell me to cut off the engine. The water rose inside right up to the driving compartment. I had no choice but to abandon the bus.”

Five-year-old Antonia Bruiser and her three-year-old sister started to cry when the floods rose.
Bruiser said, “The flood came and filled up the whole car. I thought I was going to die.”
-An excerpt from August 28th, 2008, Trinidad Guardian.

Our poor suffering citizens were stranded by floods at the end of a hard workday this week. Can someone remind me who it is give the Trinidad and Tobago government permission to spend $6.5 Million dollars of our money every month building an airport for St. Vincent instead of fixing our flooding problems?