Opposition warns citizens: Don’t let Govt gaslight you with budget

Three Opposition MPs believe that the upcoming budget will be filled with lies and mamaguys and urged the country not to be gaslighted by Government.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Finance announced that Minister Colm Imbert would deliver his tenth budget on September 30.

Speaking outside Parliament yesterday, St Augustine MP Khadijah Ameen, Oropouche West MP Davendranath Tancoo and Point-a-Pierre MP David Lee all said the budget will be an “election budget” aimed at convincing voters to stain their index fingers for the Government.

The three spoke separately, minutes apart, but remained in unison. Asked if this was planned, Ameen said no, adding that it was just an example of the Opposition being in one accord.

About the budget, she said: “I am also aware that this is an election year and the citizens must be mindful not to take the mamaguy because we have seen lies, lies and mamaguys from this Government and I expect that we will get some more mamaguy in this budget because it is an election year and the citizens of this country must not let the Government get away with that.”

Tancoo warned that with this upcoming budget, the Government will be attempting to “curry favour” with the population.

“This is an election budget so we expect some mamaguy. We expect some promises that we are going to do this and that and it’s not going to happen. We expect some gaslighting, where the Minister of Finance will come and say the country is doing well and the economy is growing,” he said.

Lee too used the word “mamaguy” to describe the budget. He said he expects election goodies. He added that the budget will be “pure mamaguy, untruths and promises that will not be kept.”

In response, Government MPs Adrian Leonce and Roger Monroe both said the upcoming budget will be one for the people.

Monroe, the MP for Toco/Sangre Grande, said: “I can guarantee you … that this budget that is coming up on the 30th would be the same as the PNM Government has been producing for the nation of Trinidad and Tobago which will be in the best interest of the entire country.”

Laventille East/Morvant MP Leonce, who spoke long after Monroe arrived, said he expects that the budget will be the best for the people.

“As usual, the People’s National Movement will assess the situation that we’re in and provide the best thing for the country,” he stressed.

Imbert is expected to deliver the budget in the House of Representatives on the afternoon of September 30, while Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is expected to reply on October 4.

Last year’s budget was a $59.209 billion package. It was predicated on an oil price of US$85 per barrel and a natural gas price of US$5 per MMBtu. Last year’s budget proposed a total revenue of $54.012 billion and a total expenditure of $59.209 billion, with a deficit of $5.197 billion.

The highest allocation for ministries went to Education with $8.022 billion, second was Health at $7.409 billion and National Security at $6.912 billion, capped off the top three.

—Jensen La Vende

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