RADHICA DE SILVA
Senior Multimedia Reporter
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Junior Minister of Finance Brian Manning has denied that Trinidad and Tobago is the "laughing stock" of the Caribbean for importing fuel from Jamaica.
Speaking to reporters before the opening of City Heights Housing Complex in Cocoyea, San Fernando, on Friday, Manning said the country has been importing fuel for some time and is sourcing it at the best prices.
“What we have been doing is sourcing fuel wherever we get the best prices because we are a consolidator and importer of fuel. We have been doing this since the closure of Petrotrin,”
Manning said . “Heritage and Paria have been profitable every year they have been in existence, and it is a far better situation than the previous system, where we were losing hundreds of millions of dollars. So, it is all in the best interest of the people. The companies that have been importing fuel have been profitable, and that benefits everyone involved.”
On whether the new housing units constituted “house padding,” or "voter padding" Manning laughed. He said the demand for housing remains high. “Any MP in any constituency will know the huge demand for housing, and it would be extremely difficult to fill that gap in a short period. This project goes a long way in helping the people of this community who have been clamouring for housing. He said San Fernando East is a PNM stronghold so putting more houses in a PNM constituency would only bring benefit to the constituents.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is expected to be the feature speaker at the City Heights opening.