No answer from Finance Minister about use of HSF monies

Finance Minister Colm Imbert

Colm Imbert refuses to tell the nation what $2.5 Billion of withdrawn HSF monies will be used for -maybe we should ask the junior minister of everything.

On Monday Night I took the Rowley Government to task for secretly withdrawing $2.5 Billion from the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund. Colm Imbert has characteristically refused to explain to the general public the details of what programmes or projects will be funded by the $2.5 Billion withdrawal.  The nation was not consulted and the Rowley Government has closed ranks to withhold critical information from the general public.

http://newsday.co.tt/news/0,228872.html

If there was nothing sinister about this withdrawal we must ask ourselves way we the ordinary members of the pubic not informed of this action by the government? Why did the Prime Minister not see it fit to tell the nation of the plans of the government and the need to dip into the country’s savings? Why was this move of the government shrouded in secrecy?

It is quite convenient that the Minister of Finance announced to the nation in delivering his first budget that the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund would be separated into Heritage and Stabilisation but he saw the need to make this withdrawal before making good on his promise. That should tell us all of the motive of the government!

The editorial in Monday’s Express correctly noted “now that the Keith Rowley administration, while nobody was looking, quietly drew down from this proudly preserved national store of value, T&T is left to wonder what else is going on.” http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160606/editorial/mystery-stirs-worry-over-govt-dip-into-reserves

Yesterday in the Senate, Senator Wade Mark took the opportunity to ask Mr. Imbert what withdrawn HSF funds were used for.  Mr. Imbert used the opportunity to withhold information to the general public by giving a generic response that monies would be used for financing of the services of T&T for the year 2016.

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2016-06-08/25b-hsf-withdrawal-finance-2016%E2%80%94imbert

We must not forget it was the United National Congress that had the vision to establish this Fund during the first term that it held the reigns of power of our country. The Fund was established for use by our future generations and to be a savings for our country on a rainy day. History will show that in times which were financially much worse than the present the government of the day did not withdraw from this fund rather, they contributed to it.

The citizens of this country are entitled to know specifically (and not generically) what the patrimony of our country is being spent on. The government must understand that the citizens of our country will not stand idly by and allow this Rowley administration to squander away our children’s future and the future of our country.

I am calling on the Minister of Finance once again to provide the nation with detailed information regarding the particular programmes and projects that the $2.5 Billion will be used on.

All citizens have a right to know. Is this the transparency, good governance and accountability that was promised before September 7^th.

If Mr. Imbert cannot or will not answer I call on the Junior Minister of Everything to take to the podium and explain to the nation what the $2.5 Billion is being spent on.

I am calling on the Minister of Finance once again to provide the nation with detailed information regarding the particular programmes and projects that the $2.5 Billion will be used on.

All citizens have a right to know. Is this the transparency, good governance and accountability that was promised before September 7^th.

If Mr. Imbert cannot or will not answer I call on the Junior Minister of Everything to take to the podium and explain to the nation what the $2.5 Billion is being spent on.

The Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP,

Leader of the Opposition of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago