Robinson-Regis: Take $$ from UNC corporations

PLANNING Minister Camille Robinson-Regis drew the ire of opposition MPs during the House’s Standing Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday afternoon when she said budget funds can be shifted from corporations such as Penal/Debe, Siparia, Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo and Princes Town – all UNC-controlled – and given to other corporations.

“Part of the objective of the Standing Finance Committee (is) that if members on the other side have any suggestions as to where we should move money, they can make those suggestions.

“So if they think Sangre Grande didn’t get enough for cemeteries or local health authority, they can say, ‘Let us take it from Penal/Debe,” Robinson-Regis said on Tuesday.

As government MPs pounded their desks thunderously to her recommendation, opposition MPs shouted protests.

“If you say cemeteries need more, then take it from Penal/Debe, or take it from Couva, or take it from Siparia or Princes Town, and put it in Tunapuna,” Robinson-Regis said.

An angry Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh asked aloud why funds should be taken from UNC corporations, to which Robinson-Regis said it was merely a suggestion.

Holding up budget documents, she said, “This what we have here is the whole pot.”

She said opposition MPs are free to suggest cuts in the development programme or in allocations for education, hospitals or the police service.

Another clash came later when Couva North MP Ravi Ratiram tried to suggest where funds could be sourced for the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo corporation, only to be told by Finance Minister Colm Imbert that the committee’s role is to consider budget documents on spending, not to find money or recommend how to spend it.

Amidst the wrangling, Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Kazim Hosein drew on his years of experience in local government, first as an employee, then as an alderman and finally as mayor in San Fernando, to say, “We’ll work with what we have. CEOs know how to find money, but they don’t tell councillors.”

Opposition MPs highlighted some very low allocations for the ministry and the corporations. Oropouche West MP Davendranath Tancoo said the Port of Spain City Corporation was allocated just $69 to pay its WASA bill this year, compared to $3,000 last year.

St Augustine MP Khadijah Ameen said every corporation has been allocated “a minuscule sum” to pay its WASA bill.

In response, Imbert said all listed items were simply estimates and the relevant accounting officer has a lot of flexibility to adjust funds. “Allocations here are not cast in stone.”