分类： politics

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.

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.

Trinidad and Tobago has joined the United States and six Latin American nations in officially endorsing Rodrigo Paz Pereira as Bolivia’s newly elected president. The endorsement was articulated in a joint statement released by the US State Department on October 21, titled ‘Joint Statement on the Bolivia Election.’ The statement was co-signed by Argentina, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Panama, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States. It congratulated President-elect Paz Pereira on his victory in the October 19 runoff election, which marked a significant shift in Bolivia’s political landscape after two decades of leftist governance. The statement praised the Bolivian people for their active participation in the democratic process, emphasizing that the election results reflected a collective desire for change and economic reform. The signatory nations expressed their readiness to support Bolivia’s new administration in stabilizing its economy, strengthening democratic institutions, and fostering international trade and investment. They also pledged to collaborate with Paz Pereira’s government on regional and global security, economic prosperity, and addressing shared challenges. The Associated Press described Paz Pereira’s win as a ‘surprise electoral victory,’ signaling the end of Bolivia’s long-standing alignment with leftist policies. Paz has committed to rebuilding relations with the United States and attracting foreign investment to Bolivia, which has been isolated from international markets for years. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed the election as a ‘transformative opportunity’ for bilateral cooperation on investment, immigration, and security. Paz also emphasized Bolivia’s renewed commitment to supporting democratic movements in Latin America, notably engaging with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. Trinidad and Tobago’s involvement in this alliance highlights its unique position as the only English-speaking country in the region supporting US-led initiatives, including military actions against alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers.

The Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives witnessed heated exchanges between government and opposition MPs on October 23 as they deliberated on the 2025/2026 budget. The focus of the debate centered on the allocation of $285,517,600 for the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism, alongside contentious discussions on expenditure for planting poui trees and the termination of the Cepep program. Trade, Investment and Tourism Minister Kama Maharaj outlined a $1 million initiative to beautify highways by planting poui trees, drawing parallels to similar projects in Japan involving cherry blossoms. He suggested involving volunteers and school children in the effort, prompting Port of Spain South MP Keith Scotland to question whether children would be paid for their participation. Scotland also criticized the government for dismissing former Cepep workers who could have been retained for such initiatives, leading to tense exchanges in the chamber. Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo had previously announced the termination of Cepep and URP in his October 13 budget presentation, proposing a $475 million Employment Fund to replace these programs with full-time, better-paid jobs. Social Development Minister Vandana Mohit and Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath indicated that former Cepep workers could apply for jobs through the National Recruitment Drive. Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles raised concerns about potential political patronage in the new unemployment fund, questioning its fairness and transparency.