By Clint Chan Tack Friday, August 7 2009

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I will help you: Fired cleaners Ramratee Ramjass, from left, Neera Deonarine, Chanadai Ramnanan, Beverly Augustine and Agnis Scotland listen to Opposi...

GOVERNMENT is loosening its belt to spend approximately $2.8 billion to purchase helicopters for the National Security Ministry, improve infrastructure at the country’s airports, begin new drainage projects and upgrade Maracas Beach.

In a recent statement, Anglo-Italian helicopter company Augusta Westland said it signed at US$348 million ($2.1 billion) contract with the Government to provide four AW139 medium twin turbine helicopters for the TT Air Guard. The contract also includes an extensive training and logistical support service for the Air Guard for the first five years.

“We are delighted that the TT Government has selected the AW139 to meet its search and rescue and homeland security requirements,” said Augusta Westland CEO Guiseppe Orsi.

Augusta Westland will join Bristow Caribbean, FB Heliservices of the United Kingdom (UK) and Helidex of the United States to manage the AW 139 programme. The helicopters will operate primarily from Piarco International Airport and from the three offshore patrol vessels which Government is acquiring from the UK. These assets are part of Government’s efforts to fight crime by strengthening the country’s border security.

Contacted yesterday, National Security Minister Martin Joseph neither confirmed nor denied that the contract had been signed. “I am in a meeting and I cannot talk to you right now,” he said.

Joseph was not at yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s where Works Minister Colm Imbert also announced a $320 million upgrade for the Piarco and Crown Point airports. Imbert said part of the Piarco upgrade will include the construction of a new hotel. “We have entered into an arrangement with a corporation called primis corporation to construct and manage a 251-room Radisson hotel at the Piarco Airport Estate,” he said.

Imbert added that an international business park will also be developed at the Piarco estate while the runway at Crown Point will be completely rehabilitated. He said the Crown Point runway was last resurfaced in 1994.

Imbert said Cabinet also approved 13 new drainage projects to be included in the ministry’s 2009-2010 programme at a cost of $163 million. These include cleaning the Marabella River and work on the Manning Ravine in Sangre Grande. Asked if Government had the financial resources to undertake these projects in the current economic climate, Imbert replied: “Yes. When a project is approved by Cabinet, the Minister of Finance is a member of Cabinet. These projects also went to the Finance and General Purposes Committee of Cabinet which looks at most infrastructure projects.”

Tourism Minister Joseph Ross further disclosed that Cabinet awarded Chinese firm Beijing Liujian Construction a $233 million contract to redesign and restore Maracas Beach.

“Beijing Liujian has been selected according to a design and build project format. The project will be supervised by the Tourism Development Company Ltd,” he said. On Monday, Beijing Liujian took over construction of the Tranquility Government Primary School.

Ross said Beijing Liujian was one of the largest state-owned construction companies in China and properly qualified to undertake this project which will “enhance TT as a premier Caribbean destination of choice.” All of these developments took place eight months after Prime Minister Patrick Manning told the population to “tighten their belts” to help the country weather the world financial crisis. Last month, Manning said the economic situation had improved and it was time “to release your belts.”