T&T National Budget 2018-2019

[The_Honourable]

BUDGET 2019 - by Vasant Bharath

Another limp and uninspiring offering from the Minister of Finance in today’s Budget Presentation 2019.
It is a regurgitation of several unfulfilled promises of the last three years that have found its way in every single Budget since 2016.

Gambling, Gaming and Betting legislation, Procurement legislation proclamation, TnT Revenue Authority, Property Tax, Housing Bonds, Moruga Agro processing plant, Toco sea port, Tobago airport have all been laboriously discussed before.

This Govt and Minister has lost all credibility!

Having spent over $160bn in the last three years and accomplished virtually nothing by way of improving the quality of life of citizens, we are being asked to believe that spending a further $47.7bn will do the trick.

The real question we must ask is “where has all this money gone”? Millions of your tax dollars already wasted by this incompetent bunch, taxpayers’ money spent faster than a drunken sailor on leave in a brothel beside a rum factory.

The reality is that nothing of any import has been adequately addressed in this, the penultimate Budget of this government.

A longwinded declaration of Petrotrin’s financials, already in the public domain, is not what was required. The population wants to know where our refined fuel is coming from and be comforted that there will be no shortages, artificially engineered or otherwise.

Secretive deals continue unabated with Sandals, Fast ferry vessels from Austal, Venezuela gas, Drydock facility at LaBrea and Petrotrin being advanced as ‘game changers’

The Health sector remains in complete turmoil, with patients unable to access the most basic of medications let alone a hospital bed.

The Education Sector now seems to be a playground for grooming those prone to violence.

And crime continues to spiral out of control forcing businesses and individuals to adapt accordingly and at great personal and corporate cost.

The cost of doing business has increased, productivity levels have declined precipitously, and our global ranking on competitiveness has nosedived. The Economy has been enfeebled and continues to shrink with very little hope and prospects for young people and small businesses.

Capital flight continues apace whilst those who need forex the most are placed at the end of the queue.

It is clear that the policy of borrowing, taxing the population, raiding of the HSF and the sale of State assets has failed. The result is a poorer, more indebted State with an ever increasing reliance on the energy sector for it’s survival.

The projected growth of 1.9% for 2019 differs significantly from that projected by the latest IMF report of September 2018 (0.8%) as does the Minister’s assertion that manufacturing has increased by 7.3% when the latest Enonomic Bulletin of the Central Bank (July2018) states categorically that there were DECREASES in both manufacturing (-6%) and Construction (-4.2%).

Indeed, any projected growth is as a direct result of increased oil prices on world markets (over which the Govt has no control) as well as increased production of gas from Juniper, Angellin, TROC and Sercan, all projects initiated by the previous PP government.

In fact, our debt to GDP levels now exceed 60%, the govt having borrowed $20.5 bn in the last 3 years, our forex reserves have been depleted by $US 3bn in the last 3 years, unemployment is now 5.1%, with 30,000 people having lost their jobs in the last 3years and despite the minister’s boast of low inflation of 1%, this is ONLY so because of low or non existent economic activity.

This was yet another missed opportunity to reset the narrative and build hope for a burdened people by indicating real and concrete plans for growth and development…it was time to unleash the big bazooka…… instead he produced a pea-shooter.

This was a moment to have seized. The promise of a higher standard of living has all but disappeared before our very eyes. Beset by the increasing levels of workplace insecurity, stagnant wages, frightening crime, poor public healthcare, traffic gridlock and home ownership receding into the distance, it is understandable that the public is angry.

Yet the Minister chose not to change course.

Ahead lies more cuts, particularly in social services, more taxes with the removal of all subsidies on super gasoline and more borrowing, further mortgaging our children’s future.

Mr. Imbert and his cohorts “doing it their way” have plotted a path that will make our problems bigger and harder to fix.

https://www.facebook.com/vasant.bharath ... 5180264255

[randolphinshan]

Diesel will be increased in the near future... probably in the midterm or the budget next year.

For dammmm sure

Probably subsidy would have remained untouched had PP not squandered billions. Imagine contractors were paid 1000 per square foot to build HDC house,while it being done for 600 dollars now.

[randolphinshan]

Diesel will be increased in the near future... probably in the midterm or the budget next year.

For dammmm sure

Probably subsidy would have remained untouched had PP not squandered billions. Imagine contractors were paid 1000 per square foot to build HDC house,while it being done for 600 dollars now.

[Playerz]

Diesel will be increased in the near future... probably in the midterm or the budget next year.

For dammmm sure

Probably subsidy would have remained untouched had PP not squandered billions. Imagine contractors were paid 1000 per square foot to build HDC house,while it being done for 600 dollars now.

Some people really dotish and uneducated yes...still blaming d past party for increased living standards

[novastar1]

Diesel will be increased in the near future... probably in the midterm or the budget next year.

For dammmm sure

Probably subsidy would have remained untouched had PP not squandered billions. Imagine contractors were paid 1000 per square foot to build HDC house,while it being done for 600 dollars now.

Some people really dotish and uneducated yes...still blaming d past party for increased living standards

Need to blame both red and yellow for their unscrupulous antics since Independence.
Sadly most people only see half of the story

[shake d livin wake d dead]

Diesel will be increased in the near future... probably in the midterm or the budget next year.

For dammmm sure

Probably subsidy would have remained untouched had PP not squandered billions. Imagine contractors were paid 1000 per square foot to build HDC house,while it being done for 600 dollars now.

Cheaper match box houses...wah yuh expect...pnm mites cannot think further than match boxes...and tbh pnm mites would feel that $1 extra more than others...

[The_Honourable]

This never gets old...

[Ben_spanna]

Diesel will be increased in the near future... probably in the midterm or the budget next year.

For dammmm sure

Probably subsidy would have remained untouched had PP not squandered billions. Imagine contractors were paid 1000 per square foot to build HDC house,while it being done for 600 dollars now.

Some people really dotish and uneducated yes...still blaming d past party for increased living standards

Need to blame both red and yellow for their unscrupulous antics since Independence.
Sadly most people only see half of the story

Yup- should have remained. Colony and had the white man controlling everything still.
We could always beg back!

[The_Honourable]

Checking pnm social media and found this

[Philippa]

Checking pnm social media and found this

First one is wrong, I could get a litre of blue waters for $4

Edit: they're all wrong

[supernedd]

sigh

[supernedd]

this nasty mf

[ProtonPowder]

Checking pnm social media and found this

First one is wrong, I could get a litre of blue waters for $4

Edit: they're all wrong

You need to get into the backwards logic mindset. You cant think rationally when dealing with them. They thinking that if a 630ml blue waters is $5 by the parlour, then that makes it $7.93 per litre for water.

[pugboy]

The increase in litter fines are good but they need to catch ppl
No where to call to report littering

[Ben_spanna]

They should have increased the fines for driving on to shoulder to $20,000 and reduced the duties on all Hybrid cars.

[Joshie23]

Checking pnm social media and found this

First one is wrong, I could get a litre of blue waters for $4

Edit: they're all wrong

You need to get into the backwards logic mindset. You cant think rationally when dealing with them. They thinking that if a 630ml blue waters is $5 by the parlour, then that makes it $7.93 per litre for water.

Rhoda is to the PNM, what Braveboy is to the UNC. It's as simple as that.

[sMASH]

The increase in litter fines are good but they need to catch ppl
No where to call to report littering

Besides video and officer witness, can't prove Jack that u litter.

[Monkey Man]

So the reason trinidad have them LIT vehicle import duties was cuz of the fuel subsidy?
So since it good as gone. They cant relax it ah little?

[Joshie23]

The increase in litter fines are good but they need to catch ppl
No where to call to report littering

Besides video and officer witness, can't prove Jack that u litter.

What about the countless videos on Facebook from cellphone footage or CCTV from people's houses showing people parked up by the roadside, a river, big drain, etc., offloading their rubbish? Faces and number plates are clearly shown. What more would the authorities need? This is going to sound dumb but enforcement needs to be enforced, across the board. Like for the occifers that set up their speed trap AFTER the accident hotspots, like that bridge in San Fernando before the Gulf City stretch, where it's easy pickings to catch at least 10 drivers doing around 45 km/h in any given exercise. Enforcement or complacency? But alas, we've digressed. Back to budget discussions.

[ProtonPowder]

The increase in litter fines are good but they need to catch ppl
No where to call to report littering

Besides video and officer witness, can't prove Jack that u litter.

What about the countless videos on Facebook from cellphone footage or CCTV from people's houses showing people parked up by the roadside, a river, big drain, etc., offloading their rubbish? Faces and number plates are clearly shown. What more would the authorities need? This is going to sound dumb but enforcement needs to be enforced, across the board. Like for the occifers that set up their speed trap AFTER the accident hotspots, like that bridge in San Fernando before the Gulf City stretch, where it's easy pickings to catch at least 10 drivers doing around 45 km/h in any given exercise. Enforcement or complacency? But alas, we've digressed. Back to budget discussions.

Once or twice i see full page announcements in the newspapers with lists of names and license plates for people caught dumping off the M2. We need more of that.

[The_Honourable]

So pnm telling people that we should be glad for the price increase because our caricom neighbors paying higher.

[hydroep]

LOL @ "We need to get rid of this government because they are overdoing it. "...

Dotish forkers, allyuh want Pee oN deM, take Pee oN deM in allyuh MC.

Gas gone up $1, people vex
Ryan Hamilton-Davis 6 Hrs Ago

COMMUTERS and taxi drivers alike are foreseeing doom and gloom after the 2019 budget, in which Finance Minister Colm Imbert announced that the price of super gasoline will rise by a dollar a litre.

One commuter in Port of Spain said, “It worries me because taxi drivers are going to raise their fares.”

“They need to do something about this,” said another commuter, “This is ridiculous. We need to get rid of this government because they are overdoing it. They are making it more and more difficult for the lower-class people.”

Imbert yesterday announced that the price of super gasoline will go from $3.97 to $4.97 a litre. He noted that diesel prices will stay the same, at $3.41. He also said while there has been a hike in the price, super gas is still being subsidised.

When Newsday went out on the road to speak to taxi drivers yesterday, they said gas prices had already gone up, and they would have to raise their fares to match the hike. Some drivers even threatened to increase their prices by $3.

“We have to raise the price,” said one taxi driver. “Wwe can’t stay at the same price now that gas raise again.”

Another said, “How I see it, no matter what we say, it come like the same thing every year. This supposed to be a democratic government and it come like a dictatorship. Every five years we voting and every year the price of gas raising.”

https://newsday.co.tt/2018/10/01/gas-gone-up-1-people-vex/

[skylinechild]

I think I'll just put premium now yes, difference won't be much anymore

yep....same thing i saying... better full premium and done..

[hong kong phooey]

I think I'll just put premium now yes, difference won't be much anymore

yep....same thing i saying... better full premium and done..

same thing i thinking
but will gauge performance

[Redman]

The increase in litter fines are good but they need to catch ppl
No where to call to report littering

Besides video and officer witness, can't prove Jack that u litter.

Speculation here
Maybe the cost of prosecution was more than the fine?

[sMASH]

The increase in litter fines are good but they need to catch ppl
No where to call to report littering

Besides video and officer witness, can't prove Jack that u litter.

What about the countless videos on Facebook from cellphone footage or CCTV from people's houses showing people parked up by the roadside, a river, big drain, etc., offloading their rubbish? Faces and number plates are clearly shown. What more would the authorities need? This is going to sound dumb but enforcement needs to be enforced, across the board. Like for the occifers that set up their speed trap AFTER the accident hotspots, like that bridge in San Fernando before the Gulf City stretch, where it's easy pickings to catch at least 10 drivers doing around 45 km/h in any given exercise. Enforcement or complacency? But alas, we've digressed. Back to budget discussions.

Once or twice i see full page announcements in the newspapers with lists of names and license plates for people caught dumping off the M2. We need more of that.

That's what i was leading up to, the enforcment is an issue.

Put a reward for anyone with video or picture evidence of littering in the act., and for identifying the culprits.

Post up and circulate the people pictures. Since lo online now, it should be easy for them to provide the owner of the vehicle it was registered to.

[pugboy]

Just shows idiots are usually cut from the same cloth

Checking pnm social media and found this

First one is wrong, I could get a litre of blue waters for $4

Edit: they're all wrong

You need to get into the backwards logic mindset. You cant think rationally when dealing with them. They thinking that if a 630ml blue waters is $5 by the parlour, then that makes it $7.93 per litre for water.

Rhoda is to the PNM, what Braveboy is to the UNC. It's as simple as that.

[shake d livin wake d dead]

I think I'll just put premium now yes, difference won't be much anymore

yep....same thing i saying... better full premium and done..

Only thing with this...you will be refueling at least 2 times for the week

[EFFECTIC DESIGNS]

The funniest part is when Imbutt say the closing down of Petrotrin will ensure that citizens will be happier and better off is when I started to laugh at just how fcking dotish this cacahole really is. But then all the dotish PNM voters in my job are happy as ever they are happy that Petrotrin refinery is shutting down they can't wait they are so excited they say only south will suffer

[shake d livin wake d dead]

That not funny....the funny thing is wanting to start all the "game changing" projects and hoping to finish by 2020