PM: Best budget by this Government

MONDAY’S budget was “probably” the best budget presented by the PNM Government over the past six years.

“It probably was the best, even though it was being presented in a very difficult situation. Because what the budgeting process called for was an understanding of our circumstance, where we are now, what we could afford, how we can apportion it, what our priorities are, and our commitment going forward to be able to do the things that we want to do.

“And I think the Minister of Finance and his team and those who have worked on the budget have done an excellent job.

"And from all the feedback that I’ve got from across the country, whether it is business, in the communities, parents, the vast majority of people in this country, right-thinking people, sensible people, who understand that budgeting is a process where you do the most with what you have. And that’s what we’ve done,” the Prime Minister told reporters on Tuesday.

Dr Rowley was asked about the Opposition Leader’s claims the budget was a “cut and paste” of the Roadmap to Recovery recommendations and there was no hope for the working class and the poor.

He replied: “I don’t really want to respond to statements like that because they are unhelpful and the Opposition Leader is somebody looking for a cause. If you want to ask me about what the budget means for the people of TT, then I can respond to that.”