Speech: CARIRI Rubber Crumb Distribution Ceremony

This is a bold step in a general business culture where tradition and playing safe seem to be the modus operandi.  We will never attain our full potential playing that way.  In addition, Research and Development, R&D, is also a feature sorely lacking in Trinidad and Tobago.  Over two years in the making, this project is a testament to the value of R&D to national innovation, or innovation in general.

Now, more than ever, small island developing states like ours have to grapple with sustaining long-term economic growth while grappling with our ability to adapt to changing global conditions.  It has been widely noted that Research and Development is widely regarded as a valued investment, contributing to expansion of knowledge base while identifying the most efficient methods of production within an economy.  Much of this has been reflected in this Rubber Crumb Initiative.

Numerous empirical studies across both developed and developing economies have consistently demonstrated a strong and positive correlation between R&D expenditure and economic growth. 

In the same vein of congratulating CARIRI and project partners; the University of Trinidad and Tobago, UTT; the University of the West Indies, UWI; also the staff of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development and the Basel Convention Regional Centre for the Caribbean, BCRC Caribbean for their contributions and immense support, I also say let’s do more.  We need more R&D, we need to challenge the status quo regarding business development in Trinidad and Tobago and we need more support for national innovation.

From the vantage point of government, we recognise that sustainable development is not an abstract concept. It requires tangible projects that reduce environmental risk, stimulate enterprise, create jobs and generate foreign exchange. The rubber crumb project does precisely that.

This initiative aligns squarely with the development agenda of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago under the leadership of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. The Rubber Crumb Project solidifies our unwavering committment to economic transformation, innovation-led national growth, environmental stewardship and the expansion of non-energy manufacturing.

In its actual scope, this is not simply a recycling project. It is a strategic Research, Development and Innovation initiative designed to build a more technology-driven, transforming economy. 

Let us consider the challenge we are addressing.  For years, Trinidad and Tobago has grappled with the indiscriminate dumping of waste tyres. With limited disposal options, tyres have been discarded along roadways and in watercourses.

They block drains, contribute to flooding and create habitats for vermin. More dangerously, when they collect water, they become breeding grounds for the Aedes aegypti mosquito — the vector for dengue, chikungunya and Zika. 

Landfilling is not a sustainable solution. Tyres are flammable and stockpiles pose significant fire hazards. Tyre fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish and can result in severe environmental and economic damage, placing pressure on agencies such as the Solid Waste Management Company Limited (SWMCOL).  But within this challenge is where CARIRI and its partners saw the opportunity.

Rubber crumb, when blended with asphalt, forms rubberized asphalt, a paving material used in several countries and reputed for superior performance characteristics.  Rubber asphalt offers improved resistance to cracking, reduced temperature susceptibility, enhanced oxidation and aging resistance, as well as improved resistance to permanent deformation. In practical terms, this means longer-lasting roads, reduced maintenance cycles and potential cost savings for the State.

For businesses, however, the opportunity extends far beyond road paving.

Waste tyre recycling opens pathways to value-added manufacturing in waterproofing membranes, liners, construction tiles, alternative fuel for cement kilns and even marine applications. With both scrap tyres and asphalt available in abundant quantities locally, we possess a strong raw material base.  Through this, I believe in CARIRI’s ability to prepare a robust business case for commercial production, one that the private sector can confidently embrace. 

The strength of the Rubber Crumb Project is that it can:

• Mitigate environmental and public health hazards.
• Promote recycling as a viable end-of-life management solution.
• Strengthen our industrial base through value-added manufacturing.
• Create opportunities for new businesses, employment and income generation.
• Contribute to foreign exchange earnings through potential exports.

Most importantly, this project demonstrates that environmental management and economic growth are not competing objectives but mutually reinforcing pillars of modern development policy. 

To make this work, the business sector is included as a key developmental partner.  To the business community gathered here today, I say the Government is laying the foundation. The research has begun. The pilot plant is operational. The investigative and market studies are underway. The parameters for scale-up are being defined.

Your partnership has always been vital to us and we invite manufacturers, construction firms, engineering companies, investors and innovators to examine the data, engage with CARIRI and our academic partners and position yourselves at the forefront of a new circular economy industry in Trinidad and Tobago.

Through the transformation of waste into wealth; environmental liability renewed as industrial opportunity we will demonstrate that innovation, when aligned with sound policy and private sector dynamism, can drive sustainable national development.

Together, we can build more than just roads that last longer, we can create industries that grow stronger and an economy that is more resilient, diversified and future-ready.

I thank you all for sharing your time with us today.