Charles: $4.74B budget for plans to flourish

NOT IMPRESSED: Minority leader Watson Duke, centre, and Minority Assemblymen Farley Augustine, left, and Dr Faith B Yisrael give their take on the budget reading on Monday at the THA Legislature Secretariat , Scarborough.
NOT IMPRESSED: Minority leader Watson Duke, centre, and Minority Assemblymen Farley Augustine, left, and Dr Faith B Yisrael give their take on the budget reading on Monday at the THA Legislature Secretariat , Scarborough.

THA Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles believes better days are ahead after a $4.74 billion budget request was made during the annual presentation by THA Deputy Chief Secretary and Secretary of Finance and the Economy, Assemblyman Joel Jack on Monday.

Charles, speaking after the presentation at the Assembly Legislature Chamber in Scarborough, said the THA's plans are now coming to fruition after prudent management over the last year.

Among the plans are for the improvement of various tourist sites as well as a continuation in the diversification thrust. The Division of Health also received the biggest allocation.

“What we would have seen is the demonstration of our ability to manage the situation over the last year and some months. We came into office last year February effectively and we came into a situation where there was reduction in funding for the past two years, that notwithstanding we have delivered. We have, as far as the public sector is concerned, held employment constant. The economy has not collapsed and what you are beginning to see is the aggregate effects of the actions that we have taken since we have been in office now coming to fruition,” he said.

THA Minority Leader Watson Duke was not impressed. Duke described the 2018/2019 budget as hypocritical and arrogant.

He said, “We in the Minority Council, we were busy evaluating the budget, even as Joel Jack was speaking. We could (not) help but find that the budget is generally hypocritical and arrogant. It defies human logic and the economic realities that Tobago is currently facing. Everything seems to be hunky dory and they are making lots of money, even though the projected revenue for this year is less than what they projected last year.”

The budget debate has been set for Thursday at 10 am.

Jack's budget presentation was themed Re-engineering for Growth and Expansion.

In his presentation which lasted two hours, Jack said the budget numbers were largely influenced by the PNM Manifesto for the 2017 THA Election, the THA’s Pre-Budget Survey, the contributions from various stakeholders in the Pre-Budget Consultations for 2018 and the budgetary submissions of the various Divisions.

He said the budget for fiscal 2019 focuses on the following thematic areas: Economic Expansion and Diversification, Fostering Innovation and Creativity, Tourism Sector Development, Monetising Our Cultural Resources, Stimulating the Agriculture Sector, Investment in Physical Infrastructure, Education and Human Capital Development, Provision of Housing Opportunities, Improving Healthcare and Well-being, Sport and Youth Development, Protecting our Pristine Natural Environment, Community Empowerment and Public Service.

He said for fiscal 2018, the total budgetary allocation to the THA amounted to $2.18B, of which $1.86B was allocated for Recurrent Expenditure and $315.7M was allocated for Development Programme Expenditure. He revealed the overall budgetary allocation in fiscal 2018 declined by 6.7 per cent.

“The Recurrent Estimates for fiscal 2019 totals $3.2B. Personnel Expenditure $901.2M, Goods and Services $ 1.0B, Minor Equipment Purchases $ 113.7M, and Transfers and Subsidies $ 1.1B. 5.3 This represents an increase of $40.7M from last year’s request,” he said.

The Division of Health and Social Services receives the biggest chunk of the pie, followed by the Division of Infrastructure and Public Utilities.

“Assembly Legislature $26.1M, Office of the Chief Secretary $233.3M, Finance and the Economy $264.4M, Tourism, Culture and Transportation $381.1M, Education, Innovation and Energy $486.6M, Community Development, Enterprise Development and Labour $123.2M, Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment $522.3M, Food Production Forestry and Fisheries $312.5M, Health, Wellness and Family Development $756.3M, Settlements, Urban Renewal and Public Utilities $35.4M, and Sport and Youth Affairs $97.0M,” Jack said.

The Secretary delved into the numbers in the proposed recurrent expenditure.

“Tobago Regional Health Authority $510.1M, Tobago Tourism Authority $141.4M, School Feeding Programme $50.0M, Information Technology Centre $15.5M, Tobago Hospitality Tourism Institute $15.0M, Assistance to Small Properties $8.6M, Agricultural Incentive Programme $4.0M, Grant to Necessitous Patients $3.0M, Assistance to Cultural Groups $2.5M, Assistance to Sporting Organisations $2.0M, Sport Development Programme $2.0M, Assistance to Sport Tourism Organisation $2.0M and Tobago Agricultural Society $2.0M,” he said.

He said the Development Programmes Estimates amount to $1.38B, representing a decrease of $328.4M from the Estimates of 2018.

“Pre-Investment $25M, Productive Sectors $15.5M, Economic Infrastructure $663.7M, Social Infrastructure $430.9M, and Multi-sectoral and Other Services $215.4M,” he said.

Jack said to continue the diversification effort and to facilitate development of the local private sector, the estimates for development programme will continue to provide support in a number of areas, with the focus on various tourist sites.

“The Enterprise Development Company of Tobago (E-IDCOT) $40.7M, The Business Incubator Programme $10.1M, The Scarborough Esplanade Phase II $6.0M, Enterprise Development Grant Programme $6.0M, and Venture Capital Equity Fund Limited $4.0M. Given the importance of tourism to the Tobago economy, the 2019 Estimates will provide for Infrastructural Works at Pigeon Point $9.1M, Upgrade Works at Manta Lodge $8.3M, Lure Wildlife Nature Park $7.5M, Construction of the Fort King George Heritage Park Project Phase III $6.4M, Construction of Beach Facilities at Englishman’s Bay $2.0M, and Construction of Cruise Ship Berths $2.0M, Adventure Estate Plymouth Road $3.0M, and Home Improvement Subsidy, Tobago $2.0M,” the Secretary said.

The Administration said it will continue to upgrade and expand road and other physical infrastructure.

“An Expanded Road Resurfacing Programme $50.0M, Major Improvement Works to Secondary Roads $40.0M, Rehabilitation of the Claude Noel Highway $27.0M, Coastal Zone Protection Programme $25.0M, Construction of Milford Road Bridges $25.0M, Windward Road Special Development Programme $18.0M, Construction of the Milford Road Bypass to Smithfield $15.0M, Construction of the ANR Robinson International Airport Boulevard $15.0M, Construction of Sea Defence Walls $15.0M, Milford Coastal Protection $10.0M, Construction of Canaan/Bon Accord Connector Drain $8.0M, Erection of Roxborough/Bloody Bay Retaining Wall $7.5M, Improvement works to Plymouth/Arnos Vale Road $6.0M, and Mt. Pleasant/Lowlands Drainage System $5.0M,” Jack said.

Jack said that $70.0 M and $54.1M will be requested for URP and CEPEP respectively.

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"Charles: $4.74B budget for plans to flourish"

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