Tough–the T word, under prime ministerial edict, will be the key word for 2016 when economic monkeyshines will be at play in the Chinese year of the Monkey.
Heritage and Stabilisation Fund–aka State Piggy Bank.
Rainy Days–the year-round forecast for 2016 from the PNM Government.
$10B (TT)–.....hence that's what the HSF will have to give up to tide T&T over in such heavy financial weather.
Squeals of alarm–sounded on the "assault" on the HSF Piggy.
Six inch thick padding–what some quarters hope the Government will coat the financial hammer it will use to smash open the HSF so it won't be unduly affected.
Seven per cent cut–being done in ministries, which will be felt as a stinging swipe of the blade by current clients of government, potential clients, hopeful clients (and probably past clients still waiting to be paid), some contracted workers, certain unions.
Central Bank watchdog–an interesting creature to watch in action after the last CB leader got into trouble for trying to keep clients on a tight leash.
Can't complain–the response on how the situation was from some medium to high priced Woodbrook business people at the peak of Christmas week (before the PM spoke).
".................." The response after.
Concussed–affliction of both the economy and/or citizens if the latter doesn't deal properly with the former and/or the result of the former dealing harshly with the latter.
"Oh S....$%^##@!"–the response from both as the situation sinks in.
Tax–The dirty word in 2016 after January 16 (especially when accompanied by "Property" or "VAT")
Skyfall–What could happen if some quarters' movie lifestyle isn't amended.
Excessive profits–something it's useless to warn business against seeking.
Whew...!–URP,CEPEP workers' New Year greeting. For now.
Chicken Licken–What the Opposition is calling the Government in words of two paragraphs and (more) where its economic management styling is concerned.
Sacrifice–hard sell to the population and difficult call to take credibly if caller jumps on a plane and heads off to a wedding Stateside, right after asking everyone else to suck salt.
Leadership–much politically abused term in the last year particularly.
....The Real Thing–seeing it manifested in noble actions that can and should be emulated (as in lead by example.)
"Devalue–What's not on the Government's planning table where the TT$ is concerned and unlikely to be in view of the PNM's stiff (and proud) reputation on staving off such matters.
Definitely....–off the Rowley Government table, particularly in view of Tuesday's emphasis against going to the IMF.
Finance Minister Colm Imbert's response to the IMF Article Four mission in early 2016–"(Don't worry) I'm managing the finances."
Court clothes–What government and Opposition alike may need to have a lot of in 2016.
Depreciate–(But) what's already happened to the value of the currency as any worker, household planner or kid buying red mango will know: you need more $$ to buy things today than you did yesterday or last year.
Duke (it out)–the 2016 term for Government/labour confrontations (not only for the PSA).
Wonder....–how long it takes comrade Roget and company to start borrowing that term.
Hard wuk–what Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar will have in and out of her party.
Eagle eye–What Government is keeping peeled on the Opposition UNC benches to see if any fallout continues simmering from UNC's internal elections and if defeated UNC leadership contender Roodal Moonilal adopts an independent role in bill-voting.
Dumbstruck by defeat but not dotish–how UNC loyalists hope leadership contenders really are.
Entrapment–A popular word in the Opposition's 2016 dictionary for perceived victims of Government.
Governing elite–The Opposition's 2015/16 take on enemies. See Basdeo Panday's "parasitic oligarchy."
Downtime–What elected MPs, public figures, don't have the luxury of having.
Especially in tough times. (Note cue from acting PM Colm Imbert, working right after gallbladder surgery.)