Chief Secretary Farley Augustine is confident that the Tobago House of Assembly’s (THA) request for 5.8 per cent of the 2025 national budget is both reasonable and just.
In fact, he is so confident of this that he is sure even Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Minister of Finance Colm Imbert will support this “fair” demand.
For fiscal 2023-2024, the Tobago House of Assembly is asking for $3.956 billion, with recurrent expenditure at $2.81 billion, $1.002 billion for development programme expenditure, $91.9 million for the URP and $43.8 million for CEPEP.
Following a three-and-a-half-hour budget presentation yesterday, Augustine said he hopes, with an upcoming election, Imbert will be generous.
“I am certain that all, inclusive of the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, will agree that the THA’s formal request for a minimum share of 5.8 per cent of the 2025 national budget is reasonable and just, as it is in alignment with the Tobago population share of 5.05 per cent in 2022.
“It is important to note here that Tobago’s population as a share of the national population has grown continuously from 4.58 per cent in 2011 to 5.05 per cent in 2022,” he said.
For Augustine, this is a simple request to Central Government for Tobago to manage its affairs in the next fiscal year.
“All we asking for is $5.80 cents of every $100. I’m predicting that the national budget will be 65.8 billion and therefore Tobago is asking for 5.8 per cent of 65.8 billion.”
He noted that according to DRC recommendations, the THA’s share of the national budget should have been at least 4.6 per cent from fiscal 2011, increasing annually to a minimum of 5.1 per cent by 2022.
“It is in this light that I indicated to the Minister of Finance and his team from the ministry, during our 2024 pre-budget consultation, that the 4.03 per cent minimum share was insufficient and grossly inadequate.”
Health gets large chunk
The Division of Health, Wellness and Social Protection got the highest allocation of $879.8 million.
Key initiatives include a significant investment of $19.2 million in new state-of-art medical equipment for the Scarborough General and Roxborough Hospitals.
The THA said it would spend $3 million to reduce waiting times for diagnostic services, targeting a backlog of 1,500 samples and images.
Additionally, another $7.6 million allocation will go towards the replacement of ambulances, upgrades to health centre infrastructure, and the re-establishment of the diabetic wellness centre.
New airline coming
A key focus of the budget is achieving sustainable air travel to the island.
Augustine said this involves working with British Airways and Condor in improving connections with North America and Scandinavia, and increasing regional flights to Tobago in 2025.
He said negotiations with Caribbean Airlines are ongoing to restore domestic flight capacity to pre-COVID levels, enhancing travel options for both local and international passengers.
Without saying much, he hinted to a new airline coming to Tobago in July 2025. In 2023, Augustine first spoke of ongoing negotiations for a new airline to serve the domestic airbridge.
Crime-fighting technology
The island has recorded ten murders for the year thus far. This is a 50 per cent increase for the same period (January-June) in 2023.
In the drive to reduce crime and criminality in Tobago, Augustine revealed plans to implement advanced technologies such as facial recognition through “Smart City Technologies” as part of the crime-fighting strategy.
This initiative is part of a broader plan to revive the Tobago Community Safety Programme, which aims to empower local communities and strengthen their collaboration with law enforcement agencies.
On May 17, during a media briefing on crime, Augustine said Tobago cannot be left to be overrun by criminals. He then announced that the legal review for the establishment of the THA police has been completed, and the path is clear for its implementation.
This unit will fall under the Department of Public Safety and Security which is expected to be established in the coming months.
Morris, Duke: Disappointing,
misfit budget
The THA budget has been described as a failure by Minority leader Kelvon Morris.
“We were held hostage for over three hours to basically hear things we heard for the first year of this administration, and therefore we don’t expect anything different. It has been a lot of flowery words with empty promises,” Morris said after yesterday’s presentation by Augustine.
“No empty promise that was made today from the disappointment of Tobagonians. It is difficult for Tobagonians, at this time they are suffering under the hands of this administration. They boast about establishing of the economy, (but) over the past three years it has been in decline.”
Meanwhile, Progressive Democratic Patriots leader Watson Duke said the budget was a “misfit,” as it does not satisfy the true needs of Tobagonians.
“He seems very comfortable with the 5.8 per cent but here is the kick, he is going into new areas that were never spoken of that were never under the purview of the THA—like security.
“I am glad the Chief Secretary is leaving the Division of Finance. I have seen a man, Tobago, who has taken a beating. This is not ideal talk. As I examine the budget, I see one that is not adequate, one that can be regarded as the lowest budget he repented.”
In the last fiscal year, the THA requested $4.54 billion from Central Government to manage the island’s affairs.
Tobago received $2.585 billion, with $2.298 billion designated for recurrent expenditure, $216 million for development programme expenditure, and $18 million for the Unemployment Relief Programme.
For 2022-2023 fiscal year, the THA asked the Government for $3.97 billion but received $2.5 billion.
In 2025, Tobago is expected to collect $215.9 million in revenue. However, Augustine said this figure does not accurately reflect all revenue generated in Tobago, as substantial amounts are collected in Trinidad instead.
Division Allocation
Assembly Legislature $24.7M
Office of the Chief Secretary $193.3M
Finance, Trade and the Economy $199.5M
Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation $197.9M
Education, Research and Technology $565.0M
Community Development, Youth Development and Sport $117.6M
Infrastructure, Quarries and Urban Development $389.7M
Food Security, Natural Resources, and Sustainable Development $197.1M
Health, Wellness and Social Protection $879.8M
Settlements, Public Utilities and Rural Development $52.4M.