Trinrico Steel & Wire Products Limited

Business View Caribbean 5 With the advent of ISCOTT, the state owned iron and steel company that used iron ore to produce billet, wire rod, and rebar in coil, Jack established CENTRIN (Central Trinidad Steel), an integrated rolling mill spe- cializing in re-bar and mer- chant bars such as angles, flats and squares. The year was 1983, and the Dansteel Group of Companies was now regional and extra -re- gional manufacturers and exporters of steel and wire products to the Caribbean, North American, and Central American Markets. Unfortunately, the elder Ra- moutarsingh soon ran into difficulties because of a global downturn, a reces- sion, and the foreclosure of the state-owned, sole, raw material producer, ISCOTT. Raw material procurement became a challenge and protectionist policies that favored ISPATT, the new supplier, caused a 50 per- cent spike in the price of lo- cally supplied steel, thereby making his manufactured products uncompetitive in the world marketplace. He spent ten years in court bat- tles, but finally won a deci- sion mandating that the lo- Leading Suppliers of Commercial, Industrial, Residential items and Plumbing Supplies in the Caribbean.