CATEGORY:BUSINESS
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By Trevor Thwaites
Inside Grenada contributor
Tuesday October 24, 2006



ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada - Trinidad and Tobago Cement Limited (TCL) has dismissed claims that the recent shortage of cement in the country was manipulated to jolt the country’s preparations for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007.

An acute shortage of the commodity in the months of June/July saw the advent of a new company Dream Builders attempting to satisfy the shortfall. However, as soon as its product reached St George’s, boat loads of the commodity from TCL flooded the market.

It’s prices were lowed and so Dream Builders have had much difficulty selling its cement. There have been cries of sabotage by government officials, who have accused TCL of manipulating the market. There was much anxiety from the government and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for ICC World Cup Cricket 2007, because the shortage was expected to be a major setback to the completion of the National Stadium and the country’s preparations for the World Cup.

But at a press conference last Tuesday in St George’s, operations Manager of TCL, Fitz Rawlins, said that no mischief was intended and that the shortagewas not only limited to Grenada. He said that the shortfall was the result of a US$20 million renovation and expansion of the plant. “ We continue to strive for the efficiency of the plant and we only got to the plant efficiency in the months of June/July. That is the time when we were talking about producing close to 120/130 tons an hour”, Rawlins said at a press conference held at the Flambouyant Hotel.

He indicated that the problem was also caused by the introduction of a new plant by TCL. However, Rawlins said that despite the challenge, they were still able to supply cement to all of the countries, getting ready for the World Cup. “TCL had continued to supply its market place. What we know happened is that several other suppliers into the market place walked away and created an even greater demand for Trinidad cement in the region. I will like to say that we have turned the corner, projects are being completed, despite the fact that the world wide demand for cement remains very strong”, Rawlins disclosed.

TCL Marketing Manager, Rodney Cowans, admitted that TCL was not in a position to fulfill all of its obligations. However he said that being
committed to the rebuilding of Grenada, cement for the local market were sourced from the Dominican Republic at a higher price. “When the price
went up, it was the sale from the Dominican Republic, which was sold to the distributors at a higher price than the TCL cement. Subsequent to that
when you saw the reduction in price, it was because the TCL cement was back in the market”, Cowans said.

He told the local media that there was no manipulation of the price. Cowans said that TCL is the preferred brand in the region and that the company is striving to keep it that way. The TCL official said that in the last year they have spent over US$20 million to upgrade their plant to better serve the needs of Trinidad and Tobago and the region.” Everybody increased their demand as a result of the Cricket World Cup 2007 at the same time, which is not normal. That is what created the crunch in terms of supply at that point in time. However, we are now seeing an improvement in supplies”,Cowans pointed out.