OPPOSITION Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar condemns Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for a staggering increase in the entertainment budget in the Prime Minister’s Office, soaring from $890,000 in 2024 to $50 million in 2025.
Persad-Bissessar accused the Prime Minister of “feteing” while urging the public to “hold strain” during tough economic times. She made the comments in her reply to the 2024/2025 Budget in the Lower House on Friday.
Her address, titled “A Decade of Debts, Deficits, Destabilisation, Death and Destruction,” included criticism of the allocation of $400 million for “unknown buildings” under the prime ministerial vote, questioning the transparency of such expenditures.
Persad-Bissessar contrasted the $50 million earmarked for official events with the “measly” $1 million allocated to strengthen child protection systems, saying that the government misplaced its priorities. “For this government, ‘There ain’t no party like a Diddy party,’” she quipped, drawing attention to the disparity between lavish spending and pressing social issues.
During her three-hour and 40-minute speech, Persad-Bissessar took aim at the Prime Minister, Energy Minister Stuart Young, and Finance Minister Colm Imbert, who had presented his budget on Monday. She highlighted a $29.76 million increase in entertainment spending compared to the previous year and noted that $20 million would go towards hosting functions, a sharp rise from last year’s $650,000.
“The economy is good for the prime minister,” she remarked, citing additional expenses, including $70 million for the prime minister’s official residence in Tobago and millions spent on foreign trips. In stark contrast, she lamented the lack of funding for the creative industries, with zero allocations for music, film, and fashion sectors that could benefit young people.
Persad-Bissessar also criticised the government’s handling of healthcare, stating that despite $56.8 billion spent since 2015, the system remains in disarray. She humorously noted that while health officials boast about improvements, high-ranking officials are opting for medical treatment abroad.
The Opposition Leader’s remarks were laced with sarcasm and pointed jabs, as she referred to the prime minister as a “number one salesman” with little to show for nearly a decade in office. She called for accountability on various promised projects, questioning the status of initiatives like the plywood factory and the Toco Port.
As the crime crisis continues to escalate, Persad-Bissessar accused the government of neglecting citizen safety, highlighting a recent robbery incident involving a government minister. “The only industry growing is crime,” she asserted, attributing the situation to a lack of effective leadership in national security.
Persad-Bissessar’s presentation culminated in a series of acronyms redefining the ruling PNM party, including “Priorities Never Met” and “People’s Needs Marginalised,” emphasising her call for a government more attuned to the needs of its citizens.
In a closing remark that underscored her discontent with the current administration, she said, “You are in charge; deal with it!” as she urged the government to address the nation’s pressing challenges instead of engaging in extravagant celebrations.
