In spite of the PP administration getting a pass rate for the way in which it is handling the country's economy, much more needs to be done to stimulate Trinidad and Tobago's investment climate. This is the strong contention of economist and consultant Indera Sagewan-Alli, who argues that one of the first priorities is the drawing up of a national development plan to chart the way forward. The former Opposition MP (1993-1994), who is the Principal Trainer at Applied Learning and Solutions is adamant that if such a road map was in force the missteps made by the Government in its first year would not have occurred.
Q: Mrs Alli, I see you are armed with the People's Partnership 2010 general election manifesto. Are you going to launch another attack on the ruling party during this session?
A: (At her Maracas Valley, St Joseph, home Thursday afternoon, with the document opened on the table) Launch an attack...? Well, those are interesting words. I don't think the comments I have been making–all solicited by the news media–are attacking the Government. I see it more in terms of advocacy on behalf of the people. I am concerned about the country not going down the road of a dependency state.
Q: What is a dependency state in this context?
A: Clevon, it is one in which we keep our people-particularly the unskilled-depending on the State for their very survival. But isn't one of the functions of the State to assist the less fortunate, including those unskilled people? Without a doubt, but the programmes should be so geared that we train the people to become self-sufficient over time and not to simply depend on programmes like URP and Cepep for sustainable existence. Part of the original intention of those programmes was in fact a training component which never really got off the ground. Are you arguing that the PP is continuing this dependency syndrome nurtured under the PNM? Without a doubt, and the largest allocation of the PP's first budget, the largest allocation-more than three billion dollars-went to the Ministry of Social Development, which has already been expended and the Minister said he is going for an additional sum.
Q: Mrs Alli, what is intrinsically wrong with the Minister of Social Development watching the television on evenings, seeing the plight of certain people and next day rushing with help from the State?
A: Nothing is intrinsically wrong with that, but while we are doing that we are not simultaneously putting in place measures to be able to increase revenue to be able to deal with that. Transfer payment and subsidies right now, Clevon, account for almost 50 per cent of our annual budget and that is a very worrying state of affairs. And when we look at our revenue generating capacity, that is on the decline.
Q: Do you think the average man in the street is really concerned about transfer payments and other technical economic jargons?
A: They may be not Clevon, but he will get concerned the day when Government says: "Well, we don't have the revenue to sustain it any more and therefore we have to cut Gate, we have to cut URP, Cepep and we could no longer give you a Smart Card."
Q: Doesn't this same manifesto speak about uplifting the poor, diversifying the economy and so on?
A: (Putting on her glasses and searching for the relevant sections in the manifesto) Without a doubt, so we have seen with respect to looking after the poor. But how are we going to continue to afford these programmes is really the challenge. Where is the new vision that the Government spoke about? And this manifesto speaks about moving people out of these kinds of programmes and allowing them to look after themselves. (She quotes the relevant portion which speaks of encouraging people to engage in entrepreneurial pursuits and generally improving their economic position).
We need to see the plans and programmes being implemented to give voice and reality to this. We also need a new approach to social assistance, a national development plan to see where we are going and the time frame needed to get there. We're not seeing that plan.
Q: Mrs Alli, your expression and tone of delivery is one of impatience with Government's lack of speed at kick-starting the economy. Do you have any confidence in the Finance Minister's ability to turn around the country's economic condition?
A: (Slightly raised voice and gesticulating with both hands) Clevon, I believe the Government can do it; there are very bright people in there with a lot of experience. But, without an over-arching plan we will continue to be operating in a really adhoc manner and for the first year that is, unfortunately, how the Government came across.
Q: Mrs Alli, are you contending that the Minister of Finance has no vision, no plan to restart the economy?
A: Clevon, it is not the responsibility of the Finance Minister. In my humble view, it is the responsibility of the Planning Minister. If you look at the manifesto (quickly thumbing through its pages again), it clearly identifies a mechanism through which it would have developed this over-arching development plan.
Q: The Government has not stuck to its own manifesto Mrs Alli?
A: The administration itself has not been honest with its own manifesto. Hold it. Hold it. You are accusing the PP of being dishonest with regard to its own mani.... (Quickly interjecting with an apology for the choice of wording) No. No. I am not saying that at all-bad choice of word Clevon. They have not delivered, I should say. They have not delivered on what they were committed to do. It took them almost one year to appoint an economic development board and in fact it was a three-member committee. That is not what this is (tapping the manifesto) saying, and I know that no government can deliver on all its campaign or manifesto promises in one year. But I certainly expected at the end of the first year we would have had the presentation of a very clear and articulated vision and framework as to where the country is going.
Q: Why do you think, Mrs Alli, this road map, as it were, is so necessary for national development?
A: If we had that Clevon, within the first six months we would not have had so many missteps along the way-such as the bulldozing of food-as there would have been one over-arching policy on the issue of land use. It was food versus housing and it could have very well been food versus an industrial park. It is just like a company Clevon, if you don't know where you are going how are you going to get there. And that is the missing link.
Q: Mrs Alli, any other aspect of the manifesto you think the Government was tardy about implementing?
A: Of course, this manifesto (waving it in the air) speaks about the first month of taking office that every minister would take to Cabinet a strategic plan for approval. It is my understanding that after one year not many of them have completed that exercise. How have they been operating, then, within the first year?
Q: Again Mrs Alli, you speak as though you don't have faith in this Government getting it right where the development of this country is concerned?
A: (A curious glance across the table) I am not going to let you corner me Clevon, into saying something I don't want to say. What I am saying is this is a task that is critical...it should have been priority number one (drawing up a national development plan).
Q: Is it too late now?
A: (A bit irritable) How can it be too late? What would be too late is if we continue to do it the same way. But I have faith in the Prime Minister and her Cabinet, that they will have learnt from their mistake and would seek to do it differently. We cannot wait another year without having a plan.
Q: Finally Mrs Alli, I understand you did a lot of work on the preparation of this manifesto. How come you did not get a Government position?
A: Clearly, it is not because I have not offered to serve, therefore I can only conclude that my skills set are not those which the Government requires to move its agenda forward. Barring that, I guess you would have to ask the Government that particular question.
