PM: TT must 'hold the line till things get better'

The country can only bear the burden of the covid19 pandemic by supporting the most vulnerable for a limited time, says the Prime Minister.

Speaking at a media briefing at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's to give an update on measures adopted to fight the virus and prevent its spread, Dr Rowley could not say when this will expire but noted it was not forever.

He was asked to give his perspective on the economy going into 2021 which has been battered by loss of jobs across a variety of sectors, a reduction in revenues and more people depending on the state for survival.

Rowley said Government was doing all it could to maintain the economy by supporting the manufacturing, construction sectors and moving ahead with its development plans.

He said the much of that was done by borrowing significant sums which had increased the budget deficit but it was imperative to create jobs and retain jobs.

Rowley said the payments to the private sector for VAT refunds and income tax refunds was also part of that stimulation to keep the economy afloat during the pandemic.

Asked whether Government can continue to support the vast number of social welfare grants available to citizens, Rowley responded: "How long the government will be able to do this? I don't know. But we we will do it as long as we are able to because that it the economy. If we ever come to a situation where we are unable to do it, the option will then be clearer and different. But for the moment we are trying to maintain an economy with significant government sustenance and encouragement to the private sector to remain engaged."

He said while no one will be left behind there was a "limit to what the government can undertake and such a broad spectrum of support that I do not see the government volunteering more support now given that we a re struggling to maintain the very broad spectrum that we had before covid19 and that we added during covid19."

"We have to hold the line until things get better," he said, noting the people employed by CEPEP and other make-work programmes depended on that salary to buy their basic needs.

He said the number of people who are depending on Government for their next meal "are not small numbers" the demand was happening when revenues from its main source of energy supplies were constructed.

"So its a double whammy but we have to make do with less and that is why we have to be careful that we don't splurge and we not wasteful and that we don't ignore those who are dependent on the State," he said.