While Finance Minister Colm Imbert may be celebrating that the International Monetary Fund thinks he’s doing a good job - the question is who is he doing a good job for?
“... Because it certainly isn’t for T&T people,” added UNC MP Dave Tancoo (Finance spokesman) yesterday.
Commenting on the recent IMF review and the Finance Ministry’s announcement on it, Tancoo yesterday said, “But the Ministry and Government’s real performance is rate among the people of the country who live every day under this Government’s policies - and suffer in some way!
“Outside of agencies’ crunching numbers and going over documents, the reality of the Government’s financial management is reflected in what you see around with poverty, high prices, inflation and high crime. In my own constituency, I’ve had to resort to launching a petition demanding that the Government takes urgent action to address the water infrastructure crisis. It follows years of failed promises from the Government to provide a regular, reliable supply of water.
“Struggling people are now under a heavy financial burden, as they must now find additional funds to cover their own water needs. So, T&T is in financial and economic crisis and social crisis is also coming.”
Meanwhile, UNC MP Rodney Charles has written Transparency International seeking their assistance in demanding that an investigation be done into the funding of the People’s National Movement’s new Balisier House headquarters.
Charles said, “While such sensitive content need not be shared with the public, the TTPS, FIU and Counter Trafficking Unit must be provided with the relevant information to ensure that proceeds from human trafficking and money laundering aren’t part of Balisier House construction funding.
“It’s time. Nigel Stoddard, Acting Director of the FIU, Dr Samantha Chaitram, Director of the CTU and CoP Erla Christopher follow the money and determine once and for all who really funded Balisier House. If PM Keith Rowley has nothing to hide, he should have no problem providing the list of donors immediately.
“We hope Transparency International can use its powers and encourage T&T’s investigative bodies to conduct a thorough investigation.”
MP Dr Rishad Seecheran also yesterday called on the Education Ministry to collaborate effectively with the Health Ministry to ensure there’s no serious outbreak of the contagious hand, foot and mouth disease throughout T&T.
He said, “The discovery of the disease among students of Guaico Presbyterian Primary School must be immediately and thoroughly investigated. The contagious disease could be much more widespread in the school community than initially detected, and could infect many more students, in addition to their respective families and friends.
“The transmission of the disease is alarming, especially since it is taking place mere days before the Secondary Entrance Assessment examination. Students are at risk of being under quarantine and having to miss their Entrance Examination.”
He added, “There must be a vigorous public education campaign to advise the society that the disease spreads easily through touching, kissing, coughing, sneezing and by touching surfaces where the virus is present. The country must also be told that people could transmit the virus to others for days after the symptoms go away or even if they have no symptoms.”