Works and Infrastructure Minister Jearlean John says the Government intends to finance its Revitalisation Blueprint through a mix of government-to-government arrangements and public-private partnerships.
She also revealed plans to travel abroad soon to seek foreign investment for the initiative.
Speaking with the Media following the unveiling of the ambitious ten-year national redevelopment and infrastructure plan at the Diplomatic Centre yesterday, Minister John addressed questions about how the large-scale projects will be funded.
“If you noticed, the audience included bankers and captains of industry, and we were live-streaming globally,” John explained. “We’re pursuing government-to-government and public-private partnerships. People have been saying they’ve never seen a rollout like this before.”
She continued,
“This is serious business. We’re raising the standard. We wanted the presentation to feel world-class — as if it were happening in New York, Dubai, or Singapore. That level of quality was produced right here in Trinidad and Tobago by a small, hardworking team. We have the potential, the capability, and the drive. I work hard and attract people who work hard.”
On attracting foreign investors, John noted that discussions had already been taking place on an individual basis.
“They’ve been expressing interest even before now,” she said. “We also streamed the event to chambers of commerce across Europe and Saudi Arabia. In fact, I’ll soon be heading to the Middle East for a roadshow.”
She also dismissed concerns that geopolitical tensions could affect investor confidence.
Regarding fears of gentrification—especially in areas like Sea Lots and East Port of Spain where some projects will be located—John acknowledged that redevelopment must be handled sensitively.
“Back in 2015, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had offered residents of East Port of Spain who were renting HDC homes the option to buy them for $1—or $100, I believe—but many didn’t take it up. She told me, ‘Everyone deserves a place to call home.’ I can’t promise prices will be that low again, but we will work closely with the community to ensure they are part of the process and benefit from the outcome.”
John added that the revitalisation projects will ultimately help bring more residents and life back into the capital city.
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