Summary

• Funding gap by political control (FY2026): 7 PNM-controlled corporations are allocated $987.29M vs 7 UNC-controlled corporations $805.46m — a difference of $181.83m.
• Workforce split: Regional corporations employ 13,406 people total; 8,220 in PNM corporations vs 5,186 in UNC corporations — 3,034 more employees in PNM corporations.
• Total wage/operations cost cited: Taxpayers are funding local government staffing at $2.1b for 13,406 workers (per the PM’s statement).
• Per-worker cost estimate: $2.1B ÷ 13,406 ≈ $157,000 per employee (approx.) tied to local government payroll/expenses cited.
• Budget leverage timeline: The PM says future allocations will depend on performance over the next 8 months leading up to the next national budget reading, with outsourcing/mechanisation threatened if productivity doesn’t improve.

 

By Prior Beharry

PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is calling for more productivity among regional corporation workers.

In a post on social media on Saturday she said that the People’s National Movement (PNM) –controlled corporations have received more money than the United National Congress (UNC) – controlled ones and will not “get a cent more…”

She said, “PNM corporations should stop suskaying, because they’re not going to get a cent more than the almost one billion dollars that they are already receiving for this fiscal year. Instead they should begin spending taxpayers’ money on services to citizens and not on feteing, rum, wining on the road and paying for ghost projects.”

Suskaying is a Bhojpuri/Hindustani word defined as the act of sobbing, specifically inhaling sharply, gasping or choking back tears while crying.

Persad-Bissesar said, “In 2026 seven PNM corporations will receive a total of 987.29 million dollars, 181.83 million dollars more than the 805.46 million dollars that the seven UNC corporations will receive.

There is currently a total of 13,406 people employed across all regional corporations. The seven PNM corporations have 8,220 employees, 3,034 more than the 5,186 employees in the seven UNC corporations.”

She called for more working ours from the employees.

Persad-Bissessar said, “Taxpayers are paying 13,406 persons in local government 2.1 billion dollars, however after 9 am you would be lucky to see the majority of them out working. That’s because signing the attendance book and returning home by 9 am has become entrenched policy across ALL corporations.

“Scraping up small mounds of rubbish and sand for two hours to then leave on the sides of the roads to wash into the drains when rain falls is not a good use of taxpayers’ funds.

“My government is not going to continue pumping billions yearly into these corporations while citizens continue suffering for basic sanitation and infrastructure services.”

The prime minister cited the work ethic of teachers, heath and law enforcement workers.

Persad-Bissessar said, “Every day teachers, health and protective services and private sector workers go out and work an honest eight hour shift while many regional corporation workers who despite also being paid for eight hours are not doing the same.

“The math is simple. Do your jobs fairly and provide honest services for citizens or else the government will move to outsource and mechanise the majority of tasks performed by the regional corporations.”

She took issue with the Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) and the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP).

Persad-Bissessar said, “CEPEP and URP ghost gangs, natural gas subsidies overpriced goods and services contracts to the contract mafia have already been cut to stop the pickpocketing of decent hardworking law-abiding taxpayers.

“The future monetary allocations to the regional corporations will depend on their delivery over the next eight months until the next reading of the national budget.

“Decent law-abiding citizens must get value for their taxes they pay from their hard-earned salaries.

“The future of the regional corporations will be determined solely by the choices the 13,406 employees make in the next eight months. Step up or step aside, citizens deserve much better from local government corporations!”