Le Hunte: Recovery team to report by Friday

PUBLIC Utilities Minister Robert Le Hunte is very upbeat about the work of the Cabinet-appointed Roadmap to Recovery Committee, which he hopes would report to the Prime Minister as early as this Friday. Le Hunte and Gerry Brooks are its deputy chairs, and Dr Rowley is chairman.

The 22 members of the committee variously head 16 sector sub-committees which Rowley has instructed to take a very consultative approach with stakeholders such as civil society groups.

https://newsday.co.tt/2020/05/04/minister-le-hunte-recovery-team-to-report-by-friday/

Le Hunte told Newday, “That work started about ten days ago and is continuing.”

Consultations have been in sectors such as agriculture, energy, construction and manufacturing, and on topics such as revenue and expenditure, execution capabilities and how to create an enabling environment, Le Hunte said. Tobago, plus women and children’s issues, are also in focus, he added.

“On Thursday we updated the Prime Minister. He got an idea of the work we have done. He was pleased with what he heard.”

The roadmap will spell out how to jump start the economy, and will include job creation and increasing spending, all done leaving no-one behind.

The subcommittees are to report back to the committee on Saturday. “The committee will meet on Monday to discuss the findings as a group. We’ll look to present the report to the Prime Minister on Friday.” Le Hunte said the committee is also considering the medium-to-long term remodelling, rebooting and transforming of the economy.

He said for example in the area of manufacturing, the subcommittee will consider what items should be made and how to allocate resources. “The work is going ahead. Lots of people are working and giving up their time. The subcommittees cover all issues.”

In view of recent criticisms of alleged past neglect of agricultural plans, he said the agriculture subcommittee is headed by Dr John Alleyne, the PM’s adviser. “They have a website they put out soliciting feedback from citizens.” He said Minister in the Ministry of Finance Allyson West runs that subcommittee’s secretariat.

“Also, a lot of people me are sending input direct.” Saying the committee members have in all given 1,000 man-hours of work in the past eight days, Le Hunte said, “I am happy with the work being done by a number of individuals.”