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Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles has criticized the United National Congress (UNC) for its silence on its campaign pledge to restart the former Petrotrin refinery in Pointe-a-Pierre, suggesting the party has realized it cannot deliver on this promise. Beckles made these remarks during her contribution to the 2025/2026 budget debate in the House of Representatives on October 17. She highlighted the absence of any mention of the refinery in Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo’s budget presentation on October 13, contrasting it with the firm agreement in place when the People’s National Movement (PNM) left office after the April 28 general election. Beckles accused the UNC of misleading voters during the election by promoting false hopes of new jobs and foreign exchange revenues from the refinery’s revival. She emphasized that the PNM had made significant progress in restarting the refinery through a competitive evaluation process, which led to the selection of Nigerian company Oando Trading DMCC to lease and operate the facility. Beckles noted that this approach ensured no taxpayer burden and provided a structured path forward. However, she claimed the UNC scrapped this process without building on the PNM’s groundwork. Beckles also referenced a committee formed to explore the refinery’s feasibility, which reportedly admitted to minimal progress due to high capital costs and financial uncertainties. She criticized Minister Ernesto Kesar for prematurely claiming the refinery was ready to restart, warning the government against bypassing procurement laws. Beckles vowed to monitor the situation closely, emphasizing the legal consequences of breaching the Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act. The refinery’s potential restart has been a contentious issue since the PNM’s 2024/2025 budget statement, which shortlisted three companies, including Oando, for the lease.

San Fernando East MP Brian Manning has voiced strong opposition to the new taxes and tax increases proposed in the recent budget, arguing that they will negatively impact businesses and ultimately burden ordinary consumers. Speaking in the House of Representatives on October 17, Manning highlighted several measures, including the bank/insurance levy, container-processing fee increase, landlord surcharge, LPG price hike, and single-use plastic tax, as particularly harmful. He criticized Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo, whom he mockingly referred to as ‘Taxcoo,’ and labeled the budget as ‘fake and fraudulent.’ Manning also accused trade union leaders of prioritizing their own interests over their members’ welfare, aligning with the UNC in what he termed a ‘coalition of chaos and confusion.’ Manning further criticized the 0.25% levy on banks and insurance companies, which aims to raise $575 million annually, arguing that it would increase banking fees and overall costs for the public. He also condemned the landlord surcharge, equating it to a property tax, and questioned the $2,500 registration fee. Additionally, Manning criticized the electricity surcharge for commercial and industrial clients, the 100% hike in container processing fees, and the rise in excise duties on alcoholic drinks, which he said would drive up consumer prices. He also slammed the proposed $15,000 penalty for dangerous driving, calling it ‘blood money,’ and criticized the taxes on single-use plastics and electric vehicles. Manning concluded by questioning the government’s commitment to the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery and sarcastically endorsing the proposed Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT).

In a scathing critique of the 2025/2026 budget, Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles has accused the UNC-led government of steering Trinidad and Tobago toward economic collapse. Speaking at the Red House in Port of Spain on October 17, Beckles, the first female PNM leader to deliver such a response, outlined a series of alarming strategies she claims the government is employing. These include imposing punitive taxes on citizens and businesses, depleting foreign exchange reserves, and misleading the public with unrealistic economic projections. Beckles described the budget as ‘fake and fraudulent,’ citing discrepancies in fiscal deficit calculations and a lack of credible revenue sources. She also criticized the government’s reliance on borrowing, particularly foreign debt, which she warned could exacerbate the country’s fiscal crisis. Beckles highlighted the draconian tax increases on locally manufactured rum and beer, which she argued unfairly target ordinary citizens. She further accused the government of political interference in state enterprises and financial institutions, warning that such actions could jeopardize public savings. Beckles concluded by promising that the PNM would work to rebuild the nation, emphasizing the need for stability and competence in governance.