[UPDATED] THA wants $3.71b for next fiscal year

THE TOBAGO House of Assembly (THA) is requesting from central government an allocation of $3.71 billion to manage the island’s affairs in fiscal 2025-2026.

It is less than the THA asked for under the previous central government. In fiscal 2024-2025, the THA requested $3.956 billion from the PNM government, but received $2.599 billion.

Secretary of Finance, Trade and the Economy Petal-Ann Roberts revealed the sum while delivering her maiden Tobago budget presentation in the Assembly Legislature, Scarborough, on June 23.

She is the first woman to serve as finance secretary in the THA’s 45-year history.

Roberts, a chartered accountant, said, “Madam Presiding Officer, for fiscal 2026, the total estimates of expenditure amounts to $3.71 billion, of which the estimates of recurrent expenditure amount to $2.71 billion and development expenditure total $1 billion.”

She said the estimate in expenditure for the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) amounts to $91.9 million while the estimate for the Cepep programme was $43.4 million.

Roberts said the total estimates of expenditure were predicated on a projected national budget of $63.5 billion and a requested share of 5.9 per cent.

“Let me state here, Madam Presiding Officer, that any allocation to the THA in fiscal 2026 that is less that 5.9 per cent will constitute a non-alleviation of the per capita expenditure inequality that has defined the national budget and its appropriation bill since 1962.”

She continued, “Basically, all Tobago is requesting is per capita expenditure equality as a minimum revenue share to the based primarily on the island’s population as a percentage share of the national population. In dollars and cents, this is calculated as $5.90 cents out of every $100 in proposed national expenditure in fiscal 2026.

“Madam Presiding Officer, this is a fair, just and reasonable request taking into consideration that the Parliament recognises the growth in the island’s population and, in turn, legislated an increase in the island government of Tobago from 12 to 15 seats in 2021, an increase of 25 per cent.”

Roberts said any investment in the development of the Tobago economy constitutes an investment in the development of the national economy.

She added Tobago has a critical role to play in the national economic diversification thrust “that is needed now more than ever.”

Roberts said the country cannot live up to its fullest potential if a significant part of it is not contributing optimally to its overall development.

During her two-hour presentation, titled Accelerating Growth, Anchoring Fiscal Stability, Roberts said the assembly’s targeted economic growth programme for fiscal 2026 is designed to promote sustainable job creation, grow GDP, improve and expand public infrastructure, elevate efficiency in the public service and its delivery, enhance living standards, increase tax revenues and anchor fiscal stability.

As such, she said, emphasis has been placed on tourism, agriculture, the micro-small and medium enterprises sector, infrastructure, digitisation with a focus on artificial intelligence and human capital development.

Roberts also said the budget was a departure from its traditional format in that its social, economic and legislative development priorities were “fully nested” in the administration’s development planning framework, titled, Towards the Greatest Little Island One The Planet: A Strategic Development Planning Pathway for Tobago 2025-2045.

“This planning pathway is significantly advanced and is carded to be launched internally at the end of June 2025.”

Roberts, at the start of the budget statement, also announced that she had tabled the THA’s financial statements for 2018-2023.

“Additionally, it is important for me to note that the statements for 2024 are currently being finalised and is expected to be tabled before the end of fiscal 2025.”

She said this novel achievement reflects the Farley Augustine-led THA administration’s commitment to accountability, professionalism and fiscal transparency.

“The significance of this development is unprecedented as the assembly will be up to date in its financial reporting requirements. This is indeed historic, as for the first time in the history of the THA, our financial statements are completed, publicised and ready for audit.”

Roberts added, “Madam Presiding Officer, this momentous achievement is loudly saying to Tobagonians that what the PNM administration could not do during their 21 years in office, this administration, led by the honourable Chief Secretary and the Secretary of Finance, Trade and the Economy, we have done it in merely three and a half years.

“This is a profound testimony of the administration’s commitment to public accountability, transparency and good governance.”

She poked fun at the Minority bench, saying, “It is my sincere hope that the Minority Leader gets the lesson therein, that performance beats old talk everywhere and all the time. We have raised the bar, unlike the PNM, we don’t see excuses as deliverables.”

Morris is expected to deliver his budget response on June 26.

DISAGGREGATION OF RECURRENT ESTIMATES BY DIVISIONS FOR FISCAL 2026

• Assembly Legislature - $25.7 million
• Office of the Chief Secretary - $184.4 million
• Division of Finance, Trade and the Economy - $262.1 million
• Division of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation - $179.5 million
• Division of Education, Research and Technology - $476.5 million
• Division of Community Development, Youth Development and Sport - $122.6 million
• Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and Urban Development - $381.7 million
• Division of Food Security, Natural Resources, The Environment and Sustainable Development - $188.6 million
• Division of Health, Wellness and Social Protection - $845.6 million
• Division of Settlements, Public Utilities and Rural Development - $43.2 million

RECURRENT EXPENDITURE ESTIMATES

• Personal expenditure - $787.3 million
• Goods and services - $809 million
• Minor equipment purchases - $43.1 million
• Current transfers and subsidies - $1,070.6 million

This story was originally published with the headline THA requests $3.71b for next fiscal year and has been updated to include additional details. See original post below.

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) is requesting from central government an allocation of $3.71 billion to manage the island’s affairs in fiscal 2025-2026.

It is less than the THA asked for under the previous central government. In fiscal 2024-2025, the THA requested $3.956 billion from the PNM government, but received $2.599 billion.

Secretary of Finance, Trade and the Economy Petal-Ann Roberts revealed the sum while delivering her maiden Tobago budget presentation in the Assembly Legislature, Scarborough, on June 23.

She is the first woman to serve as finance secretary in the THA’s 45-year history.

Roberts, a chartered accountant, said, “Madam Presiding Officer, for fiscal 2026, the total estimates of expenditure amounts to $3.71 billion, of which the estimates of recurrent expenditure amount to $2.71 billion and development expenditure total $1 billion.”

She said the estimate of expenditure for the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) amounts to $91.9 million while the estimate for the Cepep programme was $43.4 million.

Roberts said the total estimates of expenditure were predicated on a projected national budget of $63.5 billion and a requested share of 5.9 per cent.

“Let me state here, Madam Presiding Officer, that any allocation to the THA in fiscal 2026 that is less that 5.9 per cent will constitute a non-alleviation of the per capita expenditure inequality that has defined the national budget and its appropriation bill since 1962.”