PM – Stop chasing away investors

THE PRIME MINISTER knocked critics for accusations of corruption against potential investors to Trinidad and Tobago.

Dr Keith Rowley, in responding to questions from the media on one potential investor in particular – Naveen Jindal – admonished critics for chasing away potential investors.

“There are some people who believe that the country must fail for them to succeed…because they can only succeed because their conversation is about negatives and failure,” Dr Keith Rowley said at the post-Cabinet press conference on July 25.

Jindal, chairman of the Jindal Steel and Power Ltd in India, made a courtesy call to the Prime Minister in June, during which he expressed interest in the Petrotrin refinery.

Rowley said the refinery had been mothballed for six years, but government keeps the refinery preserved in the hope that it will attract an investor.

According to a biography on oneindia.com, 54-year-old Jindal is known in India for his advocacy for women’s empowerment and was recognised by by the World Economic Forum, when he was ranked among the top 25 Indians on its annual list of 250 global young leaders.

He was also elected MP for Haryana state in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

But in 2013, he was charged by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation after allegations of cheating and graft.

News of allegations of corruption in India quickly began circulating in TT, prompting fiery criticisms from the Opposition and the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU).

“I would have thought that people who were interested in the well-being of the people of TT… would have been happy to know that there were people who at least are looking to see if there is an interest,” Rowley said.

“I don’t know why it is so detrimental that someone who was invited by a group in India who was coming to see us, someone came to this country on a courteous call – not bidding – only to see whether there is an interest in the situation…

“But the reception has been so ‘warm’ and so ‘welcoming’ that I think we are better off chasing them away. Some people think so.”

Rowley said he recently went to India advocating for TT’s interests and officials of the state of Haryana, a major food producing state in India, heard of his visit and gathered a delegation to visit TT, to seek business and investment opportunities.

The officials did so through the Haryana state co-operative supply and marketing federation (HAFED), the largest apex co-operative federation in the state.

HAFED, during its visit, held a number of meetings and is actively considering setting up a rice mill in TT, Rowley said. As a gesture the co-operative will donate a container of 25 metric tonnes of premium-quality basmati rice, 20 tonnes of parboiled rice and five metric tonnes of steam rice and a container of edible oils to TT.

“This is a gesture which I will welcome from some people who have seen us and taken the decision that we could do things together,” Rowley said.

He said the Ministry of Trade will take the necessary steps to ensure the donation is received in the proper manner and the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services will oversee a programme to distribute the rice.