THA requests $3.97b from government for fiscal 2022-2023

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) is requesting an allocation of $3.97 billion from central government to manage the island’s affairs for fiscal 2022-2023.

In announcing the figure on Thursday during his presentation of the budget estimates in the Assembly Legislature, Scarborough, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said it was predicated on an anticipated national budget of $54.7 billion.

He said he hopes the figure will also reflect 6.9 per cent of the national budget, in keeping with the upper end of the Dispute Resolution Committee’s (DRC’s) recommendation.

“Remember, Madam Presiding Officer (Abby Taylor), we had expected 6.9 per cent. The law already says we are allowed 6.9 per cent. So since you love we and care for we, give we 6.9 per cent,” Augustine said.

Of the sum, Augustine said $3.07 will be for recurrent expenditure and $900 million will be development expenditure.