Chambers share budget wishlists for security, tourism, economic growth

With budget day approaching, business chambers are putting out their expectations and recommendations and most of them focus on security, tourism, infrastructure and growth of the economy.

Greater San Fernando Area Chamber of Commerce president Kiran Singh said the major focus, however, should be on national security.

He said, "The TTPS needs more resources to combat the crime scourge our country currently faces. Complaints have come to our offices of police not having sufficient vehicles to patrol. Police mobility is a major component of crime-fighting techniques."

He even suggested that drones should be used in the detection of criminals, as they are a much cheaper tool than helicopters, which are usually used in air searches.

Singh added, "The chamber is of the view that more body cameras can assist officers and members of the public in the exercise of their duties. A nationwide security surveillance camera system needs to be implemented.

"The business community is ready to network their cameras into the national grid to create a complete coverage of the nation. Of course, emphasis would be placed on the criminal hot spots. It is a step in the right direction for Government and the Opposition to engage in roundtable discussions on crime."

Diversification, he said, also remains a challenge to TT's reliance on the oil and gas sector and is a topic that must be aggressively pursued to ensure economic survival.

"Agriculture must be given more priority, as it is a net foreign-exchange earner. The Prime Minister has stated that the food import bill has to be reduced.

"We support the Government's suggestion, and in fact have said we should grow local, buy local and eat local. Agriculture has the potential to take us to positive economic growth in the medium term."

As for tourism, he said it is another potential main thrust for foreign exchange and suggested eco-tourism, cruise ships and yachties or yacht parties should be further incentivised.

"The La Brea dry dock shipping facility needs greeter emphasis to deepen our ship service industry, as we are ideally placed for this industry's development."

Singh's other concern is with the customs department, which he said needs "urgent attention."

"Queries have been raised as to if port scanners are operational. The processing time for clearing break bulk, lateral collateral ligament and full containers needs to be desperately expected. Duties and demurrage charges continue to cause unnecessary costs in clearing goods at the nations' ports."

President of the San Juan Business Association Abraham Ali said he'd like to see allocations towards infrastructure in San Juan, because of "widespread flooding throughout the Eastern Main Road, particularly between Third Avenue and Saddle Road. The southern side of the Churchill Roosevelt Highway has drainage issues, which we would like to have addressed. The pumps at the riverbank in that area need to be replaced to alleviate flooding issues."

Echoing Singh on crime, he said these issues can be addressed in the short term by allocating more vehicles and equipment to the police and by funding regional corporations. He said the corporations already host programmes that encourage at-risk youths away from a life of crime.

"Small to medium enterprises must be encouraged and looked at as the means of providing employment to the communities," Ali said.

He added that the San Juan Fire Station also needs upgrading and a new fire tender is required.

The American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) sent a 27-page budget submission document to Government, which included a recommendation that it settle its debt to private companies.

It also recommended that Government set up a progressive economic development fund with an independent board to mobilise private capital through the provision of future tax credits (over three-five years); widen the tax net by enforcing existing tax laws for non-compliant businesses; incentivise venture capital and private equity, initially by amending regulations to allow institutional and private investors to invest a portion of their capital in such funds; consider allocating less than five per cent of the heritage fund for investing in private equity and green-light approvals for all existing projects awaiting state land sales/transfers, land leases, operating permits, construction permits, among many others.