Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley says the facts about the state of affairs in T&T will be put squarely to the population when he responds to Finance Minister Winston Dookeran's budget statement tomorrow. He is expected to give his response when Parliament meets at 10 am. Speaking with reporters prior to a meeting of PNM MPs and Senators in preparation for the budget debate, Rowley said the People's Partnership Government "was putting a face on things which was far from reality." He said that was "quite dangerous" for the people of T&T.
Rowley said Dookeran was "rambling" when he tried to explain reasons for the Government's failure to reinstate land and building taxes. "He was very evasive and I will address that in my response," he added. Former minister in the ministry of finance Mariano Browne said the 2012 budget was "disappointing" as the revenue numbers had been weak. "We are projecting to go to $48/$49 billion next year and I don't think there is anything that merits that optimism. I don't see it taking place," Browne added. He said he had no argument with the projected budget deficit.
He added: "The issue is how many deficits we are going to have and how far in the future we are going to do that. "That remains the crucial sticking point. The minister hasn't dealt with that." Asked how was the $54.6 billion fiscal package likely to affect the average citizen, Browne said: "There is nothing in the budget that penalises the man in the street now, so there is nothing that the man in the street has to be frighten for." Browne said the PP Government would have to establish the Revenue Authority of T&T.
He was critical of the decision not to re-instate property tax. "Land has to be administered and there has to be an administration system in position. So it borders on irresponsibility not to treat with that issue," he added. Browne said there remained the need to improve the administration system for the collection of revenue. He said to achieve that objective "you have to revert to where we were with the T&T Revenue Authority and that is just a matter of time."