“Faris, start doing some work!”
This instruction was given by Finance Minister Colm Imbert to Local Government Minister Faris Al-Rawi, after his ministry received funding for road repairs and rehabilitation.
Imbert made the quip at Tuesday’s PNM meeting in Chaguanas, where Al-Rawi was in the audience.
Speaking about the $11 billion in extra revenue Government’s obtained for 2022 and stating Government’s overdraft is currently 39 per cent, Imbert added, “It means there are things we can do.”
Not only can housing be financed, but also road construction, repairs and rehabilitation and small community projects, Imbert added.
Imbert gave the “order” to Al-Rawi as he cited $200 million had been allocated for the Secondary Roads Improvement Company. Also noting funds for the PURE programme, he said the Works Ministry has “no excuse” now.
Imbert said the extra $11 billion will also assist Government’s housing thrust. The Housing Ministry obtained $1.5 billion for projects, restarting stalled ones and paying debts to service providers, he said.
Housing Minister Camille Robinson-Regis detailed planned HDC projects for all over T&T—including restarting stalled projects, among them the long-stalled Edinburgh Towers.
Construction of those two Central Trinidad apartment buildings began in 2006 and was stalled in 2011 due to design flaws and missing approvals. In 2021 then-Housing Minister Pennelope Beckles projected it would have been completed early this year.
The total number of upcoming HDC projects will house 5,000 families, Robinson-Regis said HDC will also expand its rental thrust and older developments will be given facelifts in time for Christmas, Robinson-Regis added.
On the extra revenue, Imbert noted there was also increased revenue from the non-oil sector.
“So, T&T’s economy is doing extremely well, it’s not just oil and gas, it’s the non-oil sector also —we’re seeing improvement in virtually every area,” Imbert said.
He said from January, people earning $7,500 monthly won’t have to pay tax. A bill to launch that will be debated in Parliament tomorrow.
He said Government’s extra revenue will be spent on those most in need and permanent long-term sustainable jobs—not “make work” programmes.
Imbert indicated that after seven years, there’s some ease up and some money can be spent on improving people’s standard of living and helping those in need. He indicated the situation was scaring the Opposition.
“All they can say is things hard but things are not going to be so hard in the future,” he said.