Linda Hutchinson-Jafar, Business Writer

Trinidad's Prime Minister Patrick Manning gives a victory salute after his People's National Movement was returned to power in general elections last month. - AP

The new Trinidad and Tobago government of Prime Minister Patrick Manning is not getting any honeymoon from the business sector which wants immediate action on problems ranging from crime to traffic gridlock and diversification beyond energy.

Manning, whose People's National Movement (PNM) was returned to power last month, has appointed a 23-member cabinet, the majority being newcomers to the government.

But the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Manufacturers Association of Trinidad and Tobago (TTMA) are impatient of their learning curve, and are demanding action from Port-of-Spain on issues that dominated political platforms ahead of the polls.

"These issues must now be addressed once and for all, starting with the alleviation of the scourge of crime, the number one issue in this country," said chamber president, Ian Collier.

Swift action

But he also said the economy was in the most crucial and precarious phase of its long-term development as its energy resources of oil and gas were not infinite, requiring swift action on the development of non-energy sectors.

"When analysed in context of an increasing nonhydrocarbon sector deficit, and an inflation rate of 7.3 per cent, existing attempts at diversification away from the hydrocarbon sector appears, at least in the Chamber's view, to be via the drip method at best," he said.

Stepping up the programme, he said, takes political will.

"Our oil and natural gas industry is one in which we have focused our energies and have become globally recognised players while doing so," said Collier.

"We have become very good at this business. We must, therefore, maximise it and play it for all that its worth. But we should not allow ourselves to be lulled into a false sense of security or complacency while the going is good."

The manufacturing sector, the largest non-energy sector contributor to the gross domestic product also had its own wish-list: for Manning to tackle problems at the ports, inefficiencies of the regulatory bodies, manufacturers' competitive-ness, market access and trade.

Competitiveness hurt

Producers, said TTMA president Karen de Montbrun, face high cost of doing business and low levels of productivity, which in turn hurts Trinidad's competitiveness in its overseas markets, she added.

"We are fighting for our market share both locally and throughout the region," de Montbrun said.

The Chamber says it wants to see greater focus on the information and communications technology (ICT), as well as pursuit of Port of Spain as an international financial centre.

The business group also sees promise in tourism.

"All three of these identified sectors can be funded and fast tracked by the hydrocarbon sector," said Collier.

"And while they all can be classified as entities unto them-selves, there is a powerful inter connective synergy between the three of them."

business@gleanerjm.com