A Budget that Fails the people
In a spirited response during the Budget Debate on October 10, 2024, Member of Parliament for Couva North, Ravi Ratiram, condemned Prime Minister Keith Rowley’s remarks and labeled the government’s budget as a “dumb budget” that fails to meet the needs of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
The debate ignited when Prime Minister Rowley was permitted by the Speaker to use the term “dumb” to describe the opposition. MP Ratiram seized the opportunity to deliver a passionate retort, stating, “If we have to summarize what this Budget has been all about, this Budget, Mr. Deputy Speaker, has been one of the most dumb Budgets the people of Trinidad and Tobago have ever received.”
MP Ratiram did not hold back, declaring, “This Prime Minister will go down in history as one of the most dumb Prime Ministers the people of Trinidad and Tobago have ever had.” He urged the nation to recognize the implications of a budget that neglects the urgent needs of its citizens.
The Member of Parliament for Couva North highlighted the alarming rise in unemployment, noting that in the first quarter of 2024, the unemployment rate in Trinidad and Tobago increased to 5.4%, compared to 4.1% in the fourth quarter of 2023 and 4.9% in the first quarter of 2023. “Madam Speaker, since this government has come into office, over 60,000 persons have lost their jobs. In just the first three months of 2024, our labour force fell by 10,100 persons. This is a crisis!” he asserted. In contrast, Ratiram pointed out that during the period of 2010 to 2015, under the previous administration led by the most compassionate Prime Minister this country has ever had, over 55,000 young people were able to secure new jobs.
Addressing the controversial property tax, Ratiram highlighted the Prime Minister’s contradictory statements. “Madam Speaker, the Honourable Prime Minister referred to the dreaded property tax and spoke about a waiver that ended at the conclusion of the People’s Partnership’s term in office. This is the same Prime Minister who previously opposed his own leader on this issue,” Ratiram asserted. He questioned the government’s lack of initiative to introduce a new waiver or extend the existing one, emphasizing the ongoing hardships faced by the population.
MP Ratiram continued, “Under the leadership of the Member for Siparia, the People’s Partnership Administration did not collect a single cent in property tax for five years. Yet, the Honourable Prime Minister claims to be levying and collecting property tax at 2%. This is a dumb statement, as the Prime Minister knows that for five years, the People’s Partnership did not collect any property tax.”
The Member of Parliament also highlighted the government’s failure to use allocated funds for the development program, particularly in the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, and Fisheries, during what he termed the “Decade of Destruction.” It should be noted that from 2018 to 2023, $408,141,000.00 was allocated to Agriculture, Lands, and Fisheries, but only $116,055,039.00 was spent. This shows the PNM Government’s disdain and lack of vision for the sector.
MP Ravi Ratiram also called attention to the struggles faced by farmers, the inadequacies of YTEPP programs, and the misuse of Youth in Agriculture Homestead Programme as a political tool and gimmickry.
MP Ratiram raised concerns about the education sector, noting the decline in student performance under the current administration. He highlighted that under the previous Kamla Persad Bissessar-led administration, the SEA results were notably higher, with 91% of students scoring 50% or above and 14% achieving over 90%. He lamented that under the current PNM Government there has been a concerning trend with the latest results for 2024 showing a decrease from last year with 57.9% scoring 50% or higher, and only 1.4% achieving 90% or higher.