AMCHAM T&T: More Engagement Needed

MEDIA RELEASE
08/01/2018

The American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad & Tobago (AMCHAM T&T), welcomes the Hon. Prime Minister’s Address To The Nation as part of the Government’s effort to keep the population informed about the current state of the nation’s economy.

We acknowledge that the Hon. Prime Minster outlined several critical issues in his address and intentionally dealt with the macro-issues. Moving ahead, we look forward to more specific information on many of the initiatives proposed by the Government, including those that will deal with the ongoing crime scourge. The timely delivery of clear, accurate, and detailed information is critical for investor confidence and is characteristic of a Government that is committed to transparency, accountability, and good governance in all its affairs.

AMCHAM T&T recognises that the Government has reduced Government expenditure since coming into office. We encourage them to now enact fiscal rules (detailed in our budget submission) for Government spending to ensure discipline, rigor, and accountability.

We understand that managing an economy in the current economic climate is challenging, and acknowledge that hard decisions must be made as we restructure our economy to be competitive in today’s world. We also appreciate the Hon. Prime Minister’s call for all sectors of the society to work together to overcome the country’s challenges. In this vein, more meaningful engagement is required to arrive at the best solutions in the shortest possible time.

AMCHAM T&T would also like to see more bi-partisan cooperation in the Parliament, as this will be a critical component of ensuring that our legislative framework is suitable for the changing global economy.

In this regard, AMCHAM T&T remains ready to engage with and assist the Government in any way needed as we all work towards economic stability, leading to socially inclusive growth and prosperity. 

END.