In the 2010-2011 address to the nation on Old Year's evening, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar refreshed her commitment to implement change in Trinidad and Tobago. The Prime Minister also went to great pains to point out exactly what her administration had been doing since they came to office in May 2010. Some of those initiatives have been clearly useful and have set a tone of outreach for her government. Indeed, the only concern that anyone might have about the efforts of the government in 2010 is that the Prime Minister and her Cabinet might well have gone overboard in their efforts to assist the disadvantaged, creating expectations that are unsustainable. Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar quite sensibly led her address by pointing out the two key areas which have so far escaped the enthusiastic ministrations of her Cabinet, crime and the economy. While there are extenuating, historical reasons for these shortfalls in delivery, the People's Partnership Government was elected on a platform which promised decisive action on these matters. More activity in dealing with these critical issues must consume the Prime Minister's attention during the first months of 2011.
Managing these crucial matters will be key to the public perception of the new government's efficacy since by even the most generous political reckoning, the honeymoon period that accompanied the triumphant success of the People's Partnership's rise to governance is quite decisively over. What is being described as the proposed plan to tackle crime-prevention, detection and conviction-has been parroted by previous administrations and is unlikely to stoke any excitement in even the most hopeful citizen. Trinidad and Tobago is entitled to more than old talk that sounds disturbingly familiar and clear action focussed on stemming criminal activity remains the only response that an embattled population should expect from its government. While the Government inherited real fiscal challenges from its administrative predecessors, this is the job that the People's Partnership signed up for and 2010's stanching of spending must be replaced by efforts in 2011 to stimulate real confidence and excitement in the business sector.
The first few months of 2011 will demand clear resolution of three key issues that plagued the economy in 2010: the financial mess of Clico; the significant debt to contractors and the demands of the public sector for wage increases. Each of these factors potentially represents a significant drain on the Treasury and must be resolved with a view to both satisfactory outcomes for those involved and the responsibility that the Government has for the taxpayer purse it has a mandate to manage prudently.
There should be no payouts that the country cannot afford for the purpose of political expediency. Ultimately, citizens will pay that bill either through increased taxes or a reduction in government services, perhaps curtailing services that target those most in need. In her address, the Prime Minister mentioned at least two projects that are likely to provide some short to medium term stimulation of the economy, the highway extension to Point Fortin and a Ministry of Housing commitment to construct 3,000 new homes.
These initiatives speak to a commitment to restart government spending on infrastructure projects that will spark some long-awaited activity in the construction sector. It's clear that the government needs to restart some spending in the economy, but such projects must be approached judiciously, with clear bang for the buck both socially and economically. The emphasis of the People's Partnership in government during 2010 has been on building an identity for their coalition that sets it apart from the predecessor government. Key to that brand has been, as the Prime Minister put it in her address, compassion. Critical to the Prime Minister's promise to "deliver, deliver, deliver‚" in 2011 must be a clear understanding that her government cannot satisfy everyone and some decisions made in the national good will inevitably leave some interest groups unhappy. Keenness to deliver on political promises and a sense of compassion should not trump the need to deliver practical solutions that are economically sustainable.