Paray warns: Economic peril ahead

MAYARO MP Rushton Paray warned that TT could be facing economic peril soon.

In his contribution to the budget debate in the House of Representatives, Paray said this could occur because Finance Minister Colm Imbert has offered no hope to the population in terms of economic growth and stability.

Echoing earlier sentiments from Pointe-a-Pierre MP David Lee that the budget was a rehash of previous PNM promises, Paray said while the Government was busy turning the sod all over the country, people were "having difficulty turning their pots to put food on the table for their children."

He claimed Imbert's statement that the unemployment rate was 3.5 per cent was inaccurate, because economic data from 2018 could not be used to gauge the current economic climate. Paray alleged that Labour Minister Stephen McClashie said this in his budget contribution on Monday.

He said under the PNM, small businesses were closing and people were being put out of their homes with their children when they cannot pay their rent. "These are indicators that something perilous is on the way."

Paray also said a $500 million stimulus package which Imbert spoke about in his presentation was not reflected in any of the budget documents.

"That is a promise for a fool."

He also urged Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly to be "prepared to go to war with CXC" if grades given to TT students are unsatisfactory.