PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, May 25, CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago government Monday said that it has presented “Hold Over” letters to 25 bona fide operators allowing them to continue their mining and processing operations, under the same terms and conditions as their previous licences, while their renewal applications are being processed.
The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI) said that the operators are currently “Active” operations in the minerals sector who hold mining and processing licences which have expired, and who are in the process of renewal of their respective licences.
“These letters are valid for a period of one year each. This decision represents government’s commitment to ensuring that there is an adequate supply of minerals at affordable prices to meet the infrastructural and industrial development needs of the country, as minerals play a vital role in the construction and industrial sector,” the MEEI said.
In November last year, the government rolled out its accelerated development agenda through the “TT Revitalization Blueprint” programme of infrastructural development works, which comprises 129 major construction projects throughout Trinidad and Tobago.
The MEEI said that the decision to issue ”Hold Over” letters to the bona fide operators will ensure that there are adequate supplies of aggregate to ramp up construction activity in the country, as well as to maintain aggregate prices at reasonable and affordable levels for the consuming public.
“It is anticipated that this decision will also have a direct positive effect on employment levels throughout Trinidad and Tobago, as growth in construction activity leads to increases in job creation in the construction sector, as well as spin off effects such as elevated levels of employment, sales and services in the sectors that support the construction sector, including building materials, transportation, food services, professional services, etc.”
The MEEI said that it is now reviewing its list of currently “Inactive” operations from those bona fide persons with expired licences and will be communicating with these operators in the near future to determine their interest in conducting future operations “again, in an attempt to increase aggregate production and maintain stable aggregate prices in the country”.
The MEEI said it is also committed to assisting all new applicants who have never been licenced to conduct either mining or processing operations, and who wish to obtain new licences to carry out such activities in a lawful manner.
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