The future of Trinidad and Tobago depends heavily on the success of the Dragon Gas deal with Venezuela.
While attending the Official Commemoration Ceremony of the Port of Spain General Hospital Central Block on Monday, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley addressed the naysayers, giving a dose of the grim reality if the deal is not successful.
“If you see us losing that OFAC license, as you will see in the news if it happens, then you know your coo coo cook. If you see the Venezuelans not allowing us to use the Dragon field, then you know. You know that we are in difficulty.”
Despite the negative comments, Prime Minister Rowley said this country’s accomplishment of sealing the deal was a surprise to many. He said the future of Trinidad and Tobago depends on the success of Dragon.
“Our gas within our border is running out. What will happen to Point Lisas, where we now depend so much on the activity of Point Lisas for our major revenue stream? What happens when the gas runs out? And it wouldn’t run out in eight years, you know. It will be running out along the way until by the eighth year or the ninth year it gone, but between now and then, as it gets less and less and less, the problem of insufficient gas equalling insufficient revenue equalling not being able to pay for what you already owe or to do what you want to do, that is the calamity of what we will be facing.”
Dr. Rowley said the alternatives to keeping the country’s economy afloat, though available, will mean several changes that will affect our way of life.
“This is a country where, in our national budget of 60 billion dollars, six billion dollars is cash handed out to people who have no other income. That’s what’s going to happen. This is a country where people have become accustomed to the Government carrying their own bills through subsidies for water, electricity, medical health, and education. So if you don’t have a proper revenue stream, the sustenance of that. And for those who believe you could go to the IMF and get money there, that’s true, but you get the IMF money on conditions.”
The Prime Minister urged citizens not to take the work of the Government on behalf of the people of Trinidad and Tobago for granted, but rather ensure that all the steps taken to preserve our way of life are continued.