The Trinidad and Tobago Aggregate Producers Alliance (TTAPA) is calling on the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries to urgently implement a moratorium to safeguard operators in the quarrying and processing industry.
During a media briefing on Tuesday, members said that the industry has reached a breaking point and that for 25 years, no operator has been granted a processing licence, leaving the entire sector technically outside the law.
TTAPA President Nigel Tenia explained that while operators continue to play a critical role in the construction sector, they face the risk of arrest and financial hardship because of an outdated system that has failed to issue licences since the Minerals Act of 2000.
“Now if you go back to 2000, when the Minerals Act was formed to today, 2025, which means a quarter of a century, not one operator has ever been granted a licence to process sand and gravel. How is the industry going to grapple with something like that? How will we deal with something like that? Because what it means now is that essentially every single person, from the company that is making cement to the company that is making clay blocks, are all operating outside the arm of the law.”
Mr Tenia said the alliance is not seeking to politicise the issue but wants immediate dialogue with the Energy Minister to develop a fair system and protect those who have invested heavily in the industry.
“We are asking to meet with the Minister, and we are also asking that within seven days the Minister of Energy, Dr Roodal Moonilal, respond to us, and when he responds, we would like him to consider a couple companies that are operating outside of the realm of legality that his Ministry is responsible for.”
TTAPA Director Daniel Persad said operators have faced years of bureaucratic delays and mounting costs just to renew applications, with no timeline for approval. He reiterated the need for a moratorium to prevent operators from being criminalised while the government reforms the licensing system.
“One of the things that we are looking for, a moratorium in the interim to safeguard the people outside there because when you check it right, one of us, how much persons we employ? And when you look at sand, for instance, how many quarries are licensed for sand?”
Mr Persad warned that the situation could escalate if no action is taken soon.
“There are discussions that we have of holding back our services, however, for about two weeks, and if that happens then what happens to the industry? We’re going to have a big problem.”
The Alliance says it will continue to lobby for engagement with the Minister of Energy and the relevant agencies to ensure the regularisation of the industry and protect the livelihoods of thousands of workers who depend on it.