The first year of a People's National Movement (PNM) government under Dr Keith Rowley will offer special initiatives, including a 2.5 per cent reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT), increase in the personal allowance to $72,000 for taxpayers, a review of National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and old age pensions with a view to increasing payments, a proposed retiree benefits programme and incentives for the private sector, landowners and agriculturists.
The first-year initiatives, totalling 14, are listed in the PNM's 2015 general election manifesto which was presented by the party yesterday at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain, under the theme "2015 - Let's Do This Together".
The document is the product of review and revision of the PNM's Vision 2020 plan.
PNM vice-chairman Colm Imbert, the manifesto's architect, and Rowley gave details of manifesto topics in a summary presentation.
Rowley said the summary involved major areas of things the PNM wanted to focus on and the plan represented the party's expectations for T&T "if things go well in terms of our ability to execute what we think the community should have."
He added: "So finally the manifesto is here. I know some of our friends on the other side have been waiting for it and talking about it and I hope to hear no more about 'no policy,' as the document is all about policy."
Imbert said the first part of the manifesto examined the PNM's track record on crime, the economy, flooding, traffic congestion and other issues.
He added that its policies were grounded in focus on restoring integrity, ethical behaviour and other sections focus on restoring/rebuilding T&T with policies for 21 areas, including Tobago, plus the special initiative offering for the first year of government.
The first leg of PNM's plan to restore T&T hinges on enforcing a code of conduct for MPs and a general accounting office independent of the Parliament to analyse performance of an annual Budget.
It also involves instituting and implementing the procurement legislation after removing loopholes and limitations. Also in that segment is start of work on campaign finance reform legislation, to be done over the term and completed by the next general election
Imbert said the first-year Initiatives include:
�2 Increasing annual personal allowances to $72,000 for all taxpayers, allowing more disposable income.
�2 Review NIS/old age pensions "with a view to increasing the cap on pension payments, allowing more money in pensioners' hands.
�2 Reduce VAT to 12.5 per cent, allowing relief to consumers, and lower the cost of living, "while aggressively improving tax collection."
�2 Design and introduce a retiree benefits programme similar to Panama's Pensionady Programme involving free or subsidised public services for retirees, such as free drivers' permits and free passports, a wide range of discounts and exemption from certain taxes.
�2 Exempt agricultural inputs, such as approved chemicals, pest control, approved vehicles, fishing vessels and equipment from all duties/taxes.
�2 Comprehensive local government reform aspects, rural development plan.
�2 Provide incentives to landowners to revive abandoned agricultural estates.
�2 Provide incentives to the private sector to provide for training of workers in the building trade and initiate construction of the facilities necessary for national development, such as affordable housing, recreational, sporting and community facilities and multi-storey car parks.
�2 Initiate the process for a free islandwide public broadband wireless network, starting with free public hot spots in popular areas.
�2 Increase stipends for OJTs to meaningful levels.
�2 Provide easier access for the poor and indigent for targeted home repair and home improvements grants and conditional cash support.
�2 Subsidise and promote use of the renewable energy sources in residential/commercial sectors for heating, cooling and lighting (solar power, wind power).
�2 Introduce local constabularies in each local government region.
�2 Provide incentives to homeowners to install personal CCTV and alarm systems.
�2 Issue ten-year passports and remove requirement for immigration forms at ports.
Other proposals
The PNM's manifesto also proposes security of tenure for squatters in approved areas with lot identification documents which can be used to get bank loans.
Also planned is a new container port for south of Beetham in Port-of-Spain, moving the current port, and development of the entire area west to Invader's Bay and a new world class airport for Tobago among highlights
Imbert said the free broadband plan would be done over the five-year term. He could not give the figure for proposed increasing of the NIS/OAP cap.
A PNM government's immediate priorities would include dealing with legislation regarding appointment of a police commissioner, as Imbert noted the current office holder has been acting since 2012 in a state of "insecure leadership."
He said the PNM would take to Parliament legislation to strengthen the system and for appointment of a CoP within months. It needs a simple majority vote for passage, he noted.
Imbert said any rail transport system would have to be certified by international agencies and feasibilities would have to be done. He said before implementation, any plan would be discussed with transport providers and commuters.
The party projects a new railway system would allow transit times from Port-of-Spain to Arima of less than 30 minutes and Port-of-Spain to San Fernando in 45 minutes and would transport in excess of 200,000 people a day and allow for the removal of over 100,000 cars from the country's congested roads,
He also said priorities also included discussions with stakeholders to deal with the foreign exchange allocation issues.
Plans for formalising a minimum wage would involve tripartite talks and work on other sectors, such as labour, and in trade with business and other groups, would also involve continuous dialogue, feedback and consensus, he assured.
Consultation with all energy sector stakeholders would also be a priority early in the term. Another special thrust would be youth policies focusing on issues, including gangs, drugs, outreach to at-risk communities and related matters.
Rowley said governance was not a substitute for individual responsibility and a lot of the manifesto allowed for the environment for a person to prosper.
He said the PNM had examined the needs, wants and requirements of the people and identified things impeding that.
He said some plans could be done with current revenue and others might require loans or serious investment.
He noted the oil price was now very different from 2008 when the Vision 2020 plan was started and the situation would challenge the PNM to find a way to do the plan even if the "economic horizon looks blurry."
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
�2 Strengthen investigative powers of the Integrity Commission and broaden its reach.
�2 Review of social services and consultation with stakeholders.
�2 Institute employment exchanges for people to source public services work in their region.
�2 Reach out to the West Indian diaspora in US and UK to establish a market for TT goods and services and also draw from their resources.
�2 Statistics legislation and independent CSO with a board.
�2 Rebuild the Coast Guard, Joint Border Protection Agency, a Police Management Agency to strengthen the service, establishment of Community Safety Partnerships. intelligence-led national security policies.
�2 Disaster management policy.
�2 Prison management policy (focusing on the overall system, physical issues, health issues and security).
�2 Completion of the San Fernando to Point Fortin Highway, construct the San Fernando to Mayaro Freeway, Wallerfield to Manzanilla Highway, a ring road around Sangre Grande and around Chaguanas, the Port-of-Spain to Chaguaramas causeway/highway and remove all traffic lights and construct overpasses/interchanges from Port-of-Spain to Arima. Road to Toco and ferry service from Toco to Tobago.
�2 Restructuring of the Tobago air/sea bridge, accelerated housing thrust among a comprehensive plan for Tobago.