Trinidad and Tobago
Guardian
Legacy issues?
A retreat is a useful mechanism for any
management team.
Last week’s Cabinet retreat was an opportunity to
reassess and refocus. Meeting away from the
daily office routine gave cabinet ministers the
opportunity to talk informally, foster
collaboration, build teamwork, and boost morale.
It ought to have facilitated a fresh view of old
problems, to review progress, and in that
context, to recalibrate existing strategies to
address the key challenges and to anticipate new
developments. Retreats are usually the only
opportunity for cabinet ministers to explore
strategic issues in depth for a few days.
Like everything else, the success of any retreat
depends on the degree of preparation before it
convenes. No matter who actually runs the
retreat or presents at this forum, it is the leader
who convenes it, helps design it, and ultimately
would be measured by the results the retreat
generates. This is the leader’s responsibility.
The two urgent issues facing the country are
violent crime and its economic performance.
Each topic has critical subthemes. Underlying the
crime situation are the prevalence of firearms,
the drug trade, gangs, and the incapacity of the
uniformed services to respond to the threats
posed in each area. In addition, a social
development platform is needed to build safe
communities and strong families.
The performance of the economy hinges on the
capacity of the oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors
to generate revenues in the short term. The
challenge is to enable the private sector to
develop other business lines to diversify the
foreign exchange-generating opportunities to
reduce dependence on fossil fuels in the long
term. Achievement of those objectives requires
the Government to become more efficient not
less efficient as demonstrated by the current
weaknesses at the Ministry of Legal Affairs. Then
there is the unavailability of foreign exchange
which is a major constraint on new business
growth. Republic Bank’s action in cutting credit
limits by half exemplifies the problem and gives
it a sense of urgency.
There are other important issues that may appear
less urgent but are vital to T&T’s future. Among
them are a declining population, a declining
labour force, low labour productivity, a social
security system in dire need of an overhaul,
climate change, and the future of fossil fuels.
These issues are interconnected and need a
calibrated and coordinated all-of-government
approach.
These were the issues citizens expected the Prime
Minister to address vigorously to show that the
25 months left in his term would be productive.
The post-Cabinet, post-retreat briefing was an
opportunity to demonstrate the reins of
government were in good hands. Perhaps he was
being careful in his choice of words. Perhaps our
expectations were too high. Instead, he
equivocated. The chance to engage citizens in a
clear and direct language was lost. It was
business as usual.
The Manatee project will be going ahead. There is
no other real option to boost natural gas
production The Board of National Quarries will be
changed with a focus on rebuilding and repairing
the road network and realigned with the Ministry
of Works and Transport. He would write to the
Opposition on the crime. There was no message
about actions and expected results in the key
areas. What will be the legacy after ten years in
office? The Budget speech is next.