By Sue-Ann Wayow
CHIEF Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Farley Augustine has written to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley requesting an urgent meeting with him.
The meeting will be centered upon issues arising out of the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority Act.
Augustine also the THA’s Secretary of Finance, Trade and the Economy presented the THA budget on Monday at the Legislature’s building in Scarborough.
He informed the Assembly of his intention to meet with Dr Rowley.
Augustine’s budget was set against the total revenue projected to be collected in Tobago a total of $215.9 million.
He said, “This is not an accurate and true picture of the revenues generated in Tobago. As is well known, there are significant revenue streams generated in Tobago that are collected in Trinidad.”
Augustine said, “It is important to note here that the Authority is by nature a legislative creature. As such, the defects identified must be comprehensively rectified before the THA can support the operationalisation of the Authority in Tobago. In this regard, I have formally written to the Prime Minister requesting an urgent meeting to discuss this very important issue.”
He touched on four major “defects” in the Act.
According to Augustine, the Act does not provide for the THA to have any legal or formal remit over the establishment of the Authority in Tobago, the organisational structure of the Authority in Tobago, thus creating confusion and anxiety among the staff in Tobago, the functional and reporting relationships between the THA and the Authority and the THA’s legal authority over the revenues collected by the Authority in Tobago, which is the first item of responsibility of the THA under Act 40 of 1996.
Despite lamenting the low budgetary allocation from Central Government, Augustine assured that finances will be found to ensure key projects and developments in the sister isle.
The Development Programme Estimates would make provision for business, tourism, education, housing and roadworks.
The total estimates of expenditure for fiscal 2025 from the period October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025 are calculated at $3.956 billion, of which the estimates of recurrent expenditure amount to $2.819 billion, Augustine disclosed.
This in addition to Development Programme Expenditure Estimates which amount to $1.002 billion, Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) expenditure – $ 91.9 million, and Community-based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme CEPEP expenditure – $43.4 million.
The Recurrent Estimates for fiscal 2025 totalling the $2.817 billion are disaggregated as follows:
- Personnel Expenditure – $829.8M;
- Goods and Services – $855.3M;
- Minor Equipment Purchases – $29.4M;
- Current Transfers and Subsidies – $1.1B.
In terms of recurrent estimates by Division, the Health, Wellness and Social Protection Division received the largest allocation -$879.8 million.
The disaggregation of the recurrent estimates by Division is as follows:
- Assembly Legislature – $24.7M;
- Office of the Chief Secretary – $193.3M;
- Finance, Trade and the Economy – $199.5M;
- Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation – $197.9M;
- Education, Research and Technology – $565.0M;
- Community Development, Youth Development and Sport – $117.6M;
- Infrastructure, Quarries and Urban Development – $389.7M;
- Food Security, Natural Resources, and Sustainable Development – $197.1M;
- Health, Wellness and Social Protection – $879.8M;
- Settlements, Public Utilities and Rural Development – $52.4M.
In his ending statements of his budget presentation that lasted approximately three and a half hours, Augustine called for greater collaboration amongst leaders.
He said, “In this ever revolving panorama of socio-economic development, peace, justice and safety, our pursuits of constitutional transformation, social justice and economic development is not a destination but a journey. Nothing we do now is for today, but all is for tomorrow.
“Therefore what is required is unwavering commitment, bold vision, and collaborative action on a scale that transcends political borders and ideologies. It calls for leaders who are not only adept at navigating the intricacies of geopolitics and global markets but who also possess the empathy, foresight, and sensitivity to address the needs and aspirations of all people.”
