10th Sitting of the House of Representatives - 1st Session - 13th Parliament - October 17, 2025

The session opened with a prayer, followed by the formal presentation of the bill for the 2026 financial year for its second reading. The Speaker advised an allocated time of 3 hours and 16 minutes for the Leader of the Opposition's response, urging members to maintain decorum and avoid a 'glorified shouting match'.

The Leader of the Opposition, in her first budget response, criticized the 2026 budget as "fake and fraudulent," lacking a clear plan for the future. She accused the government of blaming the previous administration for its own incompetence, making wild and scandalous statements, and dishonestly claiming credit for projects initiated by the People's National Movement (PNM). She highlighted concerns about new taxes, increased borrowing, and disproportionate cuts to the Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP), arguing these measures would lead to economic disaster and would not benefit the general population.

The Opposition Leader alleged that the government's policies had caused 50,000 job losses within five months, particularly affecting lower-income workers. She contrasted this with the PNM's efforts to maintain employment and social grants during the COVID-19 pandemic despite significant revenue drops. She criticized the government for late salary payments to public servants and pensioners, and for cancelling youth initiatives, leading to a 'humanitarian crisis'.

The Opposition Leader expressed concern over the government's repeal of the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority Act, suggesting it might protect tax-evading financiers. She also accused the government of intervening in state enterprises and financial institutions like NGC and First Citizens Bank, eroding confidence in the financial system. She highlighted a sharp decline in liquidity and foreign reserves, warning of a potential debt trap and devaluation of the currency.

The Opposition Leader criticized the budget's lack of new initiatives for the energy sector, accusing the government of claiming credit for projects initiated by the PNM, such as the Exxon Mobil deal and the Dragon Gas Field. She also expressed disappointment with the budget's impact on the tourism sector, arguing that new taxes and charges would hinder growth and that the government had failed to address critical issues like declining international arrivals and the cruise industry.

The Opposition Leader accused the government of political victimization in allocating funds to local government bodies, alleging that PNM-led corporations received drastic cuts while United National Congress (UNC) corporations saw large increases. She also criticized the rebranded social development projects, arguing they stripped the Social Development Ministry of its independence and turned social assistance into a political tool.

The Opposition Leader condemned the budget's impact on education, citing cuts to remedial education, book grants, and school feeding programs. She also highlighted the government's alleged mismanagement of school repairs and the dismantling of youth initiatives. Regarding public utilities, she criticized the government for presenting projects initiated by the PNM as their own and warned that electricity rate increases would negatively affect consumers.

The Opposition Leader expressed alarm over new fiscal measures, including levies on banks and insurance companies, a landlord business surcharge, and increased excise duties on alcohol. She argued these measures would be passed on to consumers, leading to higher prices and a self-induced economic contraction. She also criticized the proposed NIS reform, arguing it would increase contributions and retirement age without proper consultation.

A government member defended the 2026 budget, praising it as a fair, equitable, and people-centered initiative. He accused the opposition of being "intellectually bankrupt" and making inconsistent arguments. He highlighted the government's efforts to address the country's financial challenges, including cutting corruption and finding new revenue streams, while also emphasizing benefits such as cheaper gasoline and expanded social grants. He refuted the opposition's claims about job losses and mismanagement, presenting alternative statistics.

A government member presented documents alleging corruption and mismanagement under the previous administration, particularly highlighting exorbitant payments to a communications consultant from the Ministry of Finance. He also revealed a rushed cabinet approval for a land lease to a water company, suggesting foul play and misuse of taxpayer funds. He vowed to expose these actions and ensure accountability.

The government member outlined achievements of his ministry, including the distribution of land leases to ex-Arima workers and streamlining land management. He detailed future plans, such as bedside birth registration and integrating land registry with surveys. He emphasized the government's commitment to progress and criticized the previous administration for its inefficiency and lack of focus on critical issues like land management.

An opposition member responded to the government's defense, dismissing it as "fluff and just plain lack of substance." He reiterated concerns about the budget's unrealistic oil price projections, the government's alleged selective treatment of workers, and the unexplained drop in foreign reserves. He accused the government of implementing policies that would lead to widespread inflation and financial burdens for ordinary citizens.

The opposition member criticized specific fiscal measures, including electricity surcharges and the landlord business surcharge, arguing they would increase costs for consumers and destabilize housing security. He highlighted concerns about the NIS contribution hike and the doubling of container processing fees, all of which would contribute to a rising cost of living. He questioned the government's reliance on penalties and fines as a revenue source, particularly for road safety offenses.

The opposition member presented statistics comparing the effectiveness of states of emergency under the previous and current administrations, suggesting the former was more successful in arrests and firearm recovery. He criticized the current government's proposed judiciary reforms as superficial, lacking substance, and failing to address the backlog of cases effectively.

A government member from Point Fortin defended the budget as a 'people's budget,' designed to address the needs of ordinary citizens and correct the 'morass' left by the previous PNM government. He highlighted specific measures in his constituency, such as improvements in electricity and water supply, and emphasized the government's commitment to creating opportunities for small and medium businesses. He also made a point to correct the record regarding the hospital construction in Point Fortin.

The government member clarified the NIS reform, explaining that the increased retirement age is a staggered, 10-year rollout and not mandatory. He accused the previous administration of intending to run down the Petrotrin pension plans and then transfer the deficit to the NIB. He then detailed the Ministry of Energy's plans for oil and natural gas production, including drilling and workover programs, aimed at increasing revenue and ensuring energy security.

The government member continued to defend the budget by pointing to concrete initiatives in his constituency and the broader Southwestern peninsula. These included street light programs, water works, and ground upgrades. He emphasized the government's focus on local development and accused the opposition of neglecting these areas in the past. He highlighted the reopening of youth facilities and the reintroduction of evening classes for vocational training.

An opposition member from San Fernando East vehemently criticized the budget as "fake and fraudulent," asserting that no economic commentator believed the figures presented. He accused the government of prioritizing political distractions over economic realities and challenged the optimistic revenue projections in light of stagnant energy production and declining international prices. He expressed concern about the politicization of trade unions, arguing they were no longer serving their members effectively.

The opposition member argued the budget served two purposes: as a 'payback' to government supporters and as a means to "raid the Heritage and Stabilization Fund (HSF)." He criticized the government's repeal of the TT Revenue Authority (TTRA) Act as a missed opportunity for revenue generation and accused them of creating a path to access the HSF through deliberately inflated revenue projections. He contrasted the government's late payments to public servants with the PNM's consistent payments during the COVID-19 crisis.

The opposition member further criticized specific tax measures, including the asset levy on financial institutions, the landlord business surcharge, and the electricity surcharge, arguing they would increase costs across the board. He condemned the increased taxes on alcohol and luxury cars, suggesting they would negatively impact industries and environmental goals. He also questioned the government's approach to NIS reform, highlighting the increased contributions and retirement age without sufficient public consultation.

A government member from La Brea defended the budget, praising the Minister of Finance and Prime Minister for their work. He criticized the opposition for their hypocrisy and continued attacks on trade unions. He argued that the PNM was responsible for mass job losses and the current state of the NIB, while the current government's NIS reforms were well-considered and long-term. He also challenged specific claims made by the opposition regarding import cover and the HSF, providing statistics to support his arguments.

The government member detailed his personal experiences growing up without basic utilities and highlighted the PNM's neglect of his constituency, La Brea. He recounted efforts to bring water and electricity to underserved areas and criticized the previous MP from La Brea for their inaction. He emphasized the current government's commitment to addressing these long-standing issues and making tangible improvements in communities.

The government member revealed a critical financial crisis at MTS under the previous administration, where the company was borrowing money to pay net salaries but failing to pay deductions to institutions like banks and credit unions. He condemned the PNM's leadership in Tobago, accusing them of fiscal wickedness and deliberate efforts to sabotage the island's tourism economy. He highlighted the current government's immediate actions to increase flights to Tobago and address airport issues left by the PNM.

The government member detailed a historical pattern of PNM mismanagement and oppression in Tobago, dating back to 1970. He critiqued the PNM's "trickle-down" economic approach to Tobago, contrasting it with the UNC government's "historical allocation" of 5% of the national budget to the Tobago House of Assembly (THA). He argued this budget delivered on promises the PNM had refused for decades, focusing on tourism, agriculture, infrastructure, and human capital development.

An opposition member from Malabar/Manzanilla criticized the budget as a "theatrical production" and corrected misinformation shared by government members, particularly regarding the construction of the Arima and Point Fortin hospitals. He emphasized the government's lack of transparent financial details, insufficient focus on education and youth, and the disproportionate emphasis on taxation. He reiterated the "triple F rating" (fake, fraudulent, failure) for the budget.

The opposition member criticized the government's fiscal measures, including the asset levy on financial institutions and the landlord business surcharge, arguing they would increase costs for citizens and negatively impact those relying on pensions or rental income. He highlighted the increasing electricity rates and traffic fines, suggesting they disproportionately burden the poor. He accused the government of making unrealistic promises and neglecting the needs of thousands of displaced workers.

The Minister of Education outlined reforms in the education sector, stating that the government inherited a system weakened by neglect. She detailed initiatives such as balancing the school calendar, completing 458 major and emergency school repairs, providing 20,000 book and supply grants, and introducing free AI textbooks. She emphasized addressing a leadership crisis within the education system by filling numerous vacancies for principals, vice principals, and teachers.

The Minister of Education elaborated on the ministry's strategic plan, focusing on 'child first,' 'parent empowerment,' and a 'strong system.' She highlighted initiatives like early screening and intervention for young children, strengthening literacy and numeracy, upgrading digital infrastructure, and developing a national parental training program. She stressed the importance of safe schools, discipline, and addressing the root causes of violence, ensuring equitable access to education for all students, including those with special needs.

The Minister of Education concluded by emphasizing the budget's positive impact on San Fernando West, highlighting investments in infrastructure, public utilities, and healthcare. She thanked the Prime Minister and her colleagues for their commitment to national transformation through education, asserting that 'when the UNC wins, San Fernando West wins' and 'everybody wins'.

A government member from Laventille East/Morvant made their maiden contribution, thanking their constituents and emphasizing the budget's focus on fairness and opportunity. They criticized the previous administration for job contraction and neglect of communities like Laventille East/Morvant. They called for targeted apprenticeship programs, community job centers, and local participation in state-funded projects, urging the government to prioritize immediate needs like road repairs, water supply, and community centers in underserved areas.

The government member stressed the importance of ministerial accountability and proposed an independent ethics and standards commission. They questioned the operational design of the newly announced $310 million unemployment fund, calling for transparent guidelines and eligibility criteria. They highlighted that recent job losses from URP and CPEP programs have created real problems for real people, not just 'ghosts', and suggested linking the fund to certified training opportunities to foster permanent empowerment.

The government member discussed the home invasion and self-defense bill, advocating for sober, evidence-based dialogue. They also addressed road safety, urging a focus on behavioral change rather than just punishment. They criticized the rebranding of the property tax as a "landlord tax," and raised concerns about the impact of taxes on single-use plastics and aged vehicle imports. They proposed an environmental compliance unit within the EMA to improve enforcement against dumping and littering.

The government member highlighted efforts to reform the Ministry of Public Utilities, including significant investments in the Met Office. They detailed the procurement of a new X-band dual-polarization weather radar system for Piarco, aiming to revolutionize weather monitoring and improve disaster preparedness. They also announced the realignment of PowerGen to their ministry, emphasizing the strategic importance of this change for national power generation and control.

The government member discussed the TSCT's future leaders internship program, which benefited 600 young citizens and is set to expand, providing skills in digital, professional, and workplace experience. They stressed the importance of corporate and social responsibility in state enterprises to empower youth and strengthen communities. They highlighted critical environmental actions, including developing a national wastewater and sanitation master plan to address long-term water and sanitation policy gaps.