FORMER energy minister Stuart Young is calling the export licence for Studley Park Quarry in Tobago a political gimmickry and a sham.

Speaking at an Opposition media conference on Thursday, Young also called the handing over of the export licence theatrical.

“We have come to address the ‘political gimmickry,’ to use that phrase of the Prime Minister and the sham that both herself and Chief Secretary are attempting to pull on the people of Tobago and also us here in Trinidad. And it is the recent theatrics that took place in the Tobago House of Assembly this week with the handing over of an alleged export licence for aggregate products from the Studley Park Quarry,” he said.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar granted the export licence to Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine during her official visit to Tobago which she said would further enable Tobago to earn their own money.

Young said the people of Tobago needed the aggregate more than the countries to benefit from the export.

“Right now, in Tobago along the major highway, there are areas that require immediate emergency work and rehabilitation. The aggregate product that is produced from Studley Park is world-class and in particular, their armour rock that is produced from Studley Park. So really it is to inform the people of T&T and more particularly Tobago, don’t be fooled by any export licence.”

The application of the export licence was made in 2022 under the former government. Former Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, said that there was high local demand for aggregate and therefore would be better used at home.

Young referred to a statement made by Secretary of Infrastructure, Quarries and Urban Development Trevor James in which he said there was little roadwork being done especially in Trinidad with no request of material from the Ministry of Works.

Young said, “There would have been no order by the Ministry of Works for the quarry over the last two years because the Ministry of Works does not procure aggregate on behalf of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. That is handled by NIDCO (National Infrastructure Development Company Limited).”

He said along with the Diego Martin flyover, construction was being done on Point Fortin/ San Fernando highway, Mosquito Creek, highways in the Grande area and areas of coastal erosion in Manzanilla and Mayaro.

“The aggregate product to repair those roads, to pave those roads, the best product would have come from Tobago and Studley Park. The procurement would have been done by NIDCO and also contractors who are awarded the contracts to do the roadworks,” he claimed.

Young also asked, “When we are in a time where every citizen is complaining about a shortage of foreign exchange, why would we use and prioritize use of our limited US dollars and foreign exchange to import aggregate when it can be produced right here in Tobago at Studley Park and hopefully in other areas in Trinidad?”

He further asked where the aggregate would come from for domestic use if Studley Park’s would be exported warning that the country could fall under the International Monetary Fund if imports increase.