I am puzzled by the comments of Dr Anselm London, Secretary of Finance in the Tobago House of Assembly, in his budget presentation for fiscal year 2011/2012. He has emphasised that Cepep and URP in Tobago have not sent home any of their beneficiaries, although many have been sent home from the corresponding programmes in Trinidad. Cepep and URP would be considered welfare programmes in any modern nation.
In a modern nation the government wishes to reduce its welfare rolls by increasing employment. This means that a respectable, properly paid workforce will replace welfare recipients. Thus I cannot comprehend London's boast that he maintained the level of Tobago's welfare rolls. Perhaps the late Dr EE Williams would have been able to explain this puzzling socio-economic boast.
A Blade
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