The steel mill has been out of operation since 2016, and after almost a decade we should welcome any serious effort to restart this important industry. However, as the new owners move forward, they must be allowed to determine how the modern operation will be managed.
If new investors are prepared to put their money into restarting the steel industry, they must be allowed to decide what skills are required and how much automation and robotics should be introduced. This is the reality of modern manufacturing. Investors are increasingly moving away from labour-intensive operations because they need productivity, reliability, efficiency and the ability to compete globally.
Robots do not go on strike, demand overtime or require shift changes. We cannot demand investment and then place unnecessary restrictions on investors. If we want the steel industry back, we must create an environment where investors are confident that their capital is safe and production will not be continually disrupted by industrial disputes. Trinidad and Tobago cannot keep looking backward while the rest of the manufacturing world is moving forward.
Gordon Laughlin
Westmoorings
