Tobago Correspondent
Innovative Democratic Alliance (IDA) leader, Dr Denise Tsoiafatt-Angus, says while the Tobago House of Assembly is painting a pretty picture with its $3.7 billion budget, the real numbers tell a much darker story about the island’s economy and the future of its people.
The assembly made the budget request to Central Government on Monday during its budget presentation. It’s asking for 5.9 per cent of the national budget.
But, speaking at a media conference in Scarborough on Friday, Tsoiafatt-Angus said, “This budget, like the young people say, might look good on TikTok—but try paying for WiFi with it. It ain’t going to work.”
Tsoiafatt-Angus likened the presentation to a doctor telling a sick patient they’re fine, despite clear signs of trouble.
“You don’t want fancy words—you want the truth. You want the risks, the plan, and the pathway to healing. That’s what Tobago needs from a budget.”
She said Tobago is not getting an honest diagnosis of its economic condition. Instead, she’s claiming that GDP per capita has dropped by 13 per cent since 2021 under the current Tobago People’s Party (TPP) administration. Over the past decade, she said Tobago has seen a 36 per cent decline—more than the national average.
“This is not just about statistics—it’s about people taking home less money while the cost of living goes up.”
The IDA leader also raised alarm over education, saying 68 per cent of the island’s workforce is undereducated, with more students falling into the 1-4 subject pass range.
“This is under the watch of two former teachers—the Chief Secretary and Secretary of Education,” she noted.
While the THA says it created 4,000 jobs, Tsoiafatt-Angus questioned their quality.
“Are these real jobs or just ten-days gigs to get us to the next election? Real work brings stability.”
She described the budget as a mix of “smoke and mirrors” and “vibes,” saying it failed to show a clear plan for the future.
She said Tobago needs a budget that prioritises education reform, investment in people, export development, and permanent job creation—not a list of 21 vague goals with no real strategy.
“Tobago deserves better than tokenism. We need a bold plan—not an election pamphlet,” she said.
Tsoiafatt-Angus said if Tobago is to walk side by side with Trinidad, it must start behaving like a responsible adult, planning properly and showing how it will contribute to the national economy.