Senior Political Reporter
Finance Minister Dave Tancoo has pointed to huge job losses under the People’s National Movement’s (PNM) watch, rebuking former PNM minister in the Finance Ministry, Brian Manning, for blaming his (Tancoo’s) policies for causing T&T’s unemployment crisis.
Manning said yesterday, “The sharp rise in unemployment in T&T isn’t a seasonal anomaly but the direct result of failed government policies, particularly those advanced by the Finance Ministry.”
But Tancoo retorted, “He thinks the country has forgotten the corruption the PNM presided over. Brian should explain why under his watch, T&T’s output collapsed by 20 per cent and over 50,000 jobs were lost!”
Both clashed after Manning accused the Finance Ministry of “… reckless fiscal measures, poor planning and lack of strategic investment,” which, he said, had led to “undermined business confidence, triggered closures, and left thousands of citizens without work.”
“The ministry imposed burdensome tax regimes while neglecting to stimulate growth in key sectors. Instead of fostering innovation and supporting small and medium enterprises, the Government has pursued short-term fixes that strangled the labour market. This misguided approach has created systemic unemployment, leaving families struggling to survive,” Manning said in a statement.
Manning said suffering was compounded by the closure of the Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme and Unemployment Relief Programme initiatives that provided critical employment opportunities for vulnerable communities.
“Thousands of workers, many unskilled, single mothers, who depended on these initiatives have been cast aside, with no alternative income pathways. Collapse of these programmes has deepened poverty, disrupted households, and eroded social stability,” Manning said.
“T&T’s people deserve better. They deserve a Government that prioritises job creation, protects workers and invests in sustainable industries. Until the Finance Ministry and its hopeless ministers change course, unemployment will remain a painful reminder of failed leadership and broken promises. When UNC wins … What a joke!”
In an immediate response, Tancoo said, “Brian was a colossal failure as a junior minister. His inability to understand basic economics, much less fiscal and economic policy, is obvious every time he opens his mouth. That’s why none of the former prime ministers saw any value in making him finance minister, or even having him act as minister. He made no contribution when in government and has nothing to add to any national discourse.
“Brian should explain why under his watch, billions were borrowed but billions more left owing to suppliers of goods and services and even ordinary citizens. There was runaway crime, negative investment flows, a weakened currency and the indisputable fact of massive corruption estimated at almost ten per cent of the annual budget in one year.”
Tancoo added, “The UNC is rebuilding T&T. No amount of misdirection and misinformation from Brian or his colleagues will distract us. This Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration is committed to national development—we’ve been making significant progress. Don’t be misled by those who, when they were in office, only focused on feeding their friends, families and financiers—and now continue being focused on preventing citizens’ progress.”
