Opposition Chief Whip David Lee: 2019 Budget debate falls apart as downward spiral of Rowley-led Gov’t continues
The 2019 Budget presented by the Rowley-led Government has collapsed under the weight of no plan, no policy and no way to move Trinidad and Tobago forward.
This, according to Opposition Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Point-a-Pierre David Lee, who criticized the PNM Government’s move to hastily wind up the debate, leaving many questions unanswered.
The Opposition Chief Whip issued the following statement:
The Budget debate highlighted catastrophic flaws in the Government’s policies, their general incompetence and exposed Colm Imbert’s misinformation and creative accounting. The Opposition maintains that the 2019 budget is a con job and a blatant attack on the hardworking and taxpaying middle-class of the country.
This rush to wind-up the debate without explanation is like so many other Government actions, such as Petrotrin, the Venezuelan gas deal and the procurement of boats, all of which have been done without public scrutiny.
Just think, the Minister of National Security, the Attorney General and the Prime Minister himself did not take the opportunity to address the people of Trinidad and Tobago. Further, other frontline speakers for the Government either chose not to or were not afforded the opportunity to address the debate. We heard nothing from the Ministers of Housing, Education, Public Utilities, Foreign Affairs, or Agriculture.
This confirms what the Opposition has been saying, and what the population has come to see – that they have no idea or plan to fix the economic mess in which they’ve put our country.
What is the plan for National Security, Agriculture, Education? What is their focus? What is their priority? The budget debate was the opportune time for Ministers to address the people of Trinidad and Tobago, but instead, in a move characteristic of this Rowley Government, the plans, policies, even how the money will be spent remains a big secret.
In addition, questions regarding a reported link between sitting Members of Parliament and the Fake Oil Scandal were raised and remained unanswered because of the Government’s haste to wind up the debate. Are they running scared?
The Prime Minister must either come forward and answer the questions which were placed on the Hansard or meet the citizens inside the voting booths as soon as possible so that they can decide his fate. Come clean, answer the questions or call an election immediately.