In a departure from the normal practice, the date for the presentation of the 2013/2014 national budget was announced yesterday evening via a two-line statement from the Office of the Prime Minister. The short release from press secretary Francis Joseph read: “The Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, in consultation with the Hon Larry Howai, Minister of Finance, has designated Monday, September 9, 2013, as Budget Day in Trinidad and Tobago. Please be guided accordingly.”
Usually the budget date is announced by the prime minister in Parliament. However, although the ceremonial opening of Parliament was held on August 2, no sittings have been scheduled since then. Howai, who will present the fiscal package, has been consulting with various stakeholders in preparation for Budget Day.
In an immediate reaction, interim leader of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) Jack Warner said he was pleased that the date for the reading of the 2013/14 budget had been announced, what was more important was the date for Local Government Elections. “I am concerned more about that date because failure to announce it defines the People’s Partnership as yet another Government which is prepared to trample the rights and interfere with the freedoms of our people as enshrined in our Constitution,” he said.
“The PNM did it four times and the People’s Partnership seems to be heading in the same direction. “This is what I am more concerned about and I am hoping that the Prime Minister follows wise counsel and announces the date for the Local Government Elections soon.”
Last year’s $58.4 billion budget, which was presented on October 1, put total projected revenue, oil revenue and non oil revenue at $50.7 billion, $20 billion and $30.7 billion, respectively,z and catered for a fiscal deficit of $7.669 billion or 4.6 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).