Economist Dr. Indera Sagewan says the commissioning of the Brechin Castle Agro-Processing Facility and the National Prosthetic Centre this past weekend signals growth and development in Trinidad and Tobago.
Speaking on the Trinidad and Tobago Tobago show, Dr. Sagewan noted that the National Prosthetic Centre is a centre of excellence and positions the health sector for further growth.
“This centre has been located in Penal, an area that has been underserved when it comes to the issue of development, that has remained extremely rural and in my view, this centre can form what we call the core entity around which other related healthcare initiatives can emerge.”
She added that, beyond providing prosthetic limbs for those in need, healthcare workers will also benefit from training programmes aimed at expanding the capabilities of the healthcare system.
“We can see the emergence of an economic healthcare cluster, emerging in this part of Trinidad and Tobago where the potential of generating jobs, employing doctors, because the programme also speaks not just of delivering the limbs, the Jaipur limbs, but also the training of our healthcare professionals to be able to become experts in this whole area. So it opens up an entire new area for us in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Dr. Sagewan also acknowledged the strong production of food and beverages within the non-energy export manufacturing sector, and expressed hope that the new Brechin Castle Agro-Processing Facility will support smaller suppliers and work directly with farmers.
“I think this initiative may go a step further in terms of working with smaller suppliers. It is my expectation that it might be linked to one of the e-Teck agro parks and that there are the backward linkages link directly with farmers. India is very, very heavy in terms of climate resilience agriculture which is extremely important for a small island state like ours.”
Ultimately, she noted that the responsibility now falls on the citizens of this country to capitalise on these opportunities and position Trinidad and Tobago as a regional hub for non-energy diversification.
“It is not just ceremonial in its offering but it is very concrete in what it is offering to us, and it is offering us initiatives that, if we are smart enough and we use it to effect, can help us with our own agenda when it comes to issues such as non-energy diversification, becoming a regional hub with respect to offering cheaper pharmaceuticals etcetera.”