The construction industry in Trinidad and Tobago may experience material shortages as more than three-quarters of the quarry operators in the country have halted operations.
President of the Trinidad and Tobago Aggregate Producers’ Alliance (TTAPA), Nigel Tenia, says across the country, 24 of the 32 aggregate operators have shut down their operations and have raised concerns that they do not have licences to operate.
He says this action was taken to raise awareness that all aggregate operators, including National Quarries, are processing aggregate without a licence.
“What we would like to do is help the police and, by extension, the nation resolve the illegal aspect of the business. If you do not have a processing licence, you are illegal. We don’t want to be illegal. We don’t want to have to worry about the police when we wake up four o’clock in the morning to prepare the site.”
Mr. Tenia estimated that anywhere between 80,000 and 100,000 people will be affected by the shutdown of three-quarters of the local aggregate industry.
“The ripple effect is, as you could see, you have fellows looking for work. That’s one. The second thing is the block man, the block manufacturers, they will soon run out of material in their yards because they all have a stockpile. That will soon be depleted. The tinset man, the guys manufacturing tinset, they will soon need sharp sand, that too will be depleted. Everybody who is involved from construction, from foundation to finish, because if you can’t start the foundation, you certainly can’t do the finish.”
The TTAPA President said his organisation is seeking a meeting with the Minister of Energy and Energy Industries as well as the Minister of Works and Infrastructure to help resolve the issue, and they are prepared to wait for that eventuality.
“As long as it takes to get a meeting to rectify it because the can has been kicked 25 years now down the road. Everybody kicking it down the road. It has to stop today. It has to stop now.”
In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries said it is not yet aware of the establishment of the Trinidad and Tobago Aggregate Producers Alliance or familiar with the work of the organisation.
The Ministry also stated the allegations made by the TTAPA are false as over the past few years, the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries has granted numerous Process Mineral licenses to various companies.
The statement added that since 2014 to present, the ministry has been actively collaborating with Operators and Applicants within the Mining Sector to: facilitate the renewal of licenses, process new license applications and to address any concerns regarding licensing procedures.