The Standing Finance Committee meeting on October 24 turned into a heated debate as Housing Minister David Lee faced intense scrutiny from opposition MPs over significant budget cuts to his ministry. The session, held at the Red House, was temporarily suspended by Speaker Jagdeo Singh following a contentious exchange involving allegations of racism. The opposition questioned Lee about the ministry’s 2026 budget, which was reduced by nearly $100 million, from $684 million to $588 million. Diego Martin East MP Colm Imbert pressed Lee on how the ministry planned to hire staff despite the funding reduction, to which Lee jokingly replied, “We do magic.” Imbert retorted sarcastically, “Magic? Okay, thank you. Good answer.” Lee later clarified that the ministry currently has 92 positions, with 50 filled, 38 vacant, and four awaiting permanent appointments. He emphasized ongoing collaboration with the Public Service Commission to address staffing gaps and suggested supplementary funding or virements could be pursued if necessary. St Ann’s East MP Nyan Gadsby-Dolly questioned the drop in the ministry’s 2025 expenditure from $11 million to $9 million, probing whether personnel had left without replacement. Lee attributed the shortfall to Salaries Review Commission-related payments in the previous fiscal year. He also outlined broader housing budget allocations from 2024 to 2026, noting that $488.9 million would primarily service debt through the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), with only $32.4 million allocated for operational expenses. Imbert expressed concerns that the funding was insufficient to build new homes, questioning the HDC’s ability to deliver tangible housing outcomes. Lee defended the HDC’s self-sustaining model but acknowledged ongoing debates over profit and reinvestment priorities. The discussion also touched on aging HDC rental apartments, with Imbert highlighting the urgent need for maintenance. Lee assured that the agency would meet its obligations despite budget cuts, citing new procurement processes aimed at reducing corruption. Tensions flared further when MP Keith Scotland accused Lee of shutting down key public employment programmes in east Port of Spain. Lee vehemently denied the claim, stating, “East Port of Spain is not closed down.” The session reached a boiling point when MP Barry Padarath described the opposition’s behaviour as “hooliganism,” prompting Gadsby-Dolly to condemn the comment as racist. Speaker Singh suspended the sitting for ten minutes, urging MPs to reflect on decorum. Upon resumption, Singh ruled that both sides must withdraw their statements, restoring order to the proceedings.