Works and Infrastructure Minister Jearlean John says attracting investment is not only about creating opportunities for investors; it is also about creating a country where those investments can thrive.
Speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago’s 4th Annual ESG Conference 2026 on Tuesday, she said that requires Government, citizens and businesses to take greater responsibility for protecting Trinidad and Tobago’s infrastructure and environment.
“We don’t know what changes are to come on the global market, but we have to be ready and position ourselves. So even if we are not wealthy now, we can start the walk that will allow us to grow and be seen as serious investment hubs.”
The Works and Infrastructure Minister pointed to several preventable challenges her Ministry continues to encounter, including improper waste disposal, non-compliant construction, clogged drains, littering and illegal dumping.
“We speak a great deal about Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental and Social Governance and sustainability, but Corporate Social Responsibility should not be performative; it should be a genuine interest and commitment to do better for Trinidad and Tobago.”
The Minister said economic transformation and development will depend on maintaining Trinidad and Tobago’s competitiveness as an investment destination.
She pointed to developments in the energy sector, including the recommissioning of the iron and steel plant, cross-border gas projects and ExxonMobil’s exploration activities.
“What attracts capital is precisely what makes a country resilient. Order, predictability, excellence, discipline, cleanliness, people, and standards that hold when nobody’s watching. An investor reads a dirty country the same way they read a delayed approval, because both tell them the same thing about how a place is run and functions. Our job is to create the conditions that make an investor confident.”
The Minister said it all starts with people taking responsibility and acknowledging the role they too can play in their country’s growth and advancement.