DINESH RAMBALLY
IN LIGHT OF Prime Minister Rowley’s recent suggestion that his Cabinet somehow saved the country through its management of the energy sector, assuming it wasn’t an April Fools’ prank, it is worth analysing this and other areas of the Government’s economic management.
One project that needs to be made public is hidden from the general population within the former Waller Field aerodrome: Eteck’s Tamana Intech Park, headed by Prof Ken Julien, who was both the chairman of Eteck and the University of TT. It was conceived as a technological hub that would drive economic growth and foster innovation. However, the reality unfolded quite differently, and ended in failure.
False start
This park was conceptualised to be a high-technology park with specialised zones of economic activity and international tenants. After more than a billion dollars invested, it remains largely unoccupied. In fact, there is only one tenant: Iqor. If you visit Eteck’s website you will see the amount of vacant lots available.
The park has two main buildings, the Eteck head office and the UTT head office. The two buildings were supposed to be the first two LEED (leadership in energy and environmental design) buildings in the country. However, this idea was scrapped during the construction. An examination of the buildings today would reveal that the companies are hard-pressed to maintain them in the manner originally planned.
Reality sets in
Despite the lofty ambitions, the Tamana Intech Park faced numerous challenges from the start that contributed to its failure. Problems with the selected Chinese contractor led to costly delays, work stoppages, scope changes and overall inefficiency. The envisioned collaboration between local and international entities remained elusive, as potential investors hesitated to commit to a project that showed signs of stagnation.
The lack of critical infrastructure, such as reliable transportation links, further hindered the park's growth. Businesses require a conducive environment to thrive, and the failure to provide essential services deterred potential tenants.
After realising the design and conceptualisation failure, Eteck consulted with many external parties for a possible solution. They visited Costa Rica in a last-ditch effort to solicit tenants or to find a possible buyer. They were advised that this idea was too late in the making.
Changing dynamics
and global trends
The dynamics of the technology and business landscape were evolving rapidly during the development of Tamana Intech Park. The global tech industry witnessed a shift towards more flexible and remote working models, which impacted the demand for traditional office spaces. The park's failure to adapt to these changing trends left it at a disadvantage.
Furthermore, the competition in the region for tech-related investments increased, with other countries such as Costa Rica offering more attractive incentives and a better business environment. TT's failure to position itself as a competitive destination for
