Sports Minister Anil Roberts says the People's Partnership has paid out $2 billion in VAT refunds. He made this comment in defence of Finance Minister Winston Dookeran's economic policies during his contribution on supplementation and variation of sums in the 2012 budget in Parliament on Friday. Roberts said: "Under the PNM people were not receiving the amount. It was cut by 60 per cent. Many businessmen in the country did not have the money to reinvest because the PNM was not paying VAT refunds in a timely manner.
"After eight or nine months, we paid $2 billion in VAT to people. They have that money so do not say there was no growth on the horizon." He accused the PNM of boasting they had $300 million in their coffers. He said: "They believed it was the best way to have an increase. We want to encourage domestic investment in the economy. We see it (paying out) as one of the best ways to promote and encourage investment." Roberts queried whether they are subscribing to the same guru as the Member for Sando East-a reference to former Prime Minister Patrick Manning and his prophetess Juliana Pena. He reminded them the Peoples' Partnership was concluding outstanding negotiations including with Hilton workers. He said: "Growth is expected in the second or third quarter of this year."
