The MND is very pleased to see and hear the prominent voices in the construction and engineering industries come out and take a stand against the hasty award of the Rapid Rail Project contract.

Ever since this project was announced, the MND has expressed its concerns as it has with so many other issues including the Smelter Plant (we were the first political party to speak out on it and attend the symposium); the purchase of armed helicopters by the government to fight crime (which the government denied it was going to do then stated that they were going ahead with exactly that); and the correlation between the government's construction boom and inflation (where we offered solutions that were rejected by local business magnates but then supported by world economists and then admitted to by government) just to name a few.

The MND only has the best intentions for the population of Trinidad and Tobago - all the population. That's why we have consistently advocated for the most efficient and effective government for the people. The unilateral decision by government to engage in a $15 billion Rapid Rail Project without seriously looking at the alternatives can never be in the best interest of the population. Not to mention the $1.5 billion annual maintenance cost and the associated significant annual interest charges.

Most of the traffic congestion is caused by the policies of the government, so too inflation, crime, poverty and environmental degradation. Then they spend billions trying to clean up their mess.

Once we continue to pile every institution into the centre of Port of Spain there will be serious congestion. It is a simple theory of supply and demand. If everything is in Port of Spain, then everyone has to go there. But we will never be able to provide sufficient road space or parking for that demanded and so there will only be increased congestion. This has been the government's plan of which they are proud.

The only realistic solution is to implement an integrated transport system together with a well thought out decentralization plan. 

Decentralization, decentralization, decentralization - that's the only way we can bring some quality living to the people of Trinidad and Tobago BUT this government is obsessed with centralization, centralization, centralization.

The MND makes this call, like all our other calls.... in the interest of all the people of Trinidad and Tobago.... because Trinidad and Tobago deserves better - decentralize the services of government so that jobs, services (education, health, driver's permits, passports, etc.) and quality living can be enjoyed by all closer to home.