Khadijah Ameen is maintaining municipal corporations must settle debts before hosting events, as the chairman of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation rejects her position as “false and misleading”.
The Rural Development and Local Government Minister said her guidance has been consistent — corporations should not stage events while owing contractors or carrying unpaid obligations.
She said the position applies to all municipal corporations and is not aimed at any single body, but reflects a broader push for financial discipline.
Ameen said corporations are expected to settle obligations before seeking or using funds for events, with priority placed on essential services and the management of public resources.
She said there is no need for any chairman to publicly defend their position, describing her comments as a call for corrective action given the financial state of corporations.
The Ministry said longstanding issues remain within the local government system, including underfunding, weak financial practices and limited oversight, which have contributed to accumulated debt and delays in contractor payments inherited from the previous administration.
In that context, Ameen said the Ministry is insisting on stronger financial discipline across all corporations.
She said the core responsibility of municipal corporations remains the delivery of essential services, including road repairs, infrastructure and basic services, which must take priority.
While cultural programmes remain part of community life, Ameen said they cannot take precedence over essential services or unpaid obligations.
TPRC chairman Josiah Austin said unpaid contractor balances, particularly for scavenging services, stem from insufficient allocations from central government rather than mismanagement.
