A heated debate unfolded in Trinidad and Tobago’s House of Representatives on October 23, as Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo defended the allocation of $475 million to an employment fund in the 2026 budget. The fund aims to support the government’s ambitious recruitment drive to create or fill 20,000 jobs. However, opposition MPs raised concerns about the adequacy of the funding, with St Ann’s East MP Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly arguing that the sum would only cover wages below the national minimum wage. Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West MP Stuart Young questioned how the fund would benefit former workers of the Cepep and URP programs, which were previously terminated. Tancoo assured that the fund would support a wide range of employment opportunities and that ministries could reallocate funds to ensure payment. He also praised Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for launching a public website for job applications. The debate grew contentious, with Young accusing the government of failing to address the needs of unemployed Cepep and URP workers. Tancoo countered by criticizing the opposition’s track record in filling public sector vacancies. The session concluded with Speaker Jagdeo Singh urging MPs to move on due to time constraints.