Senior Political Reporter
The Opposition is accusing the United National Congress (UNC) Government of preparing to deliver another Budget filled with lies and unfulfilled promises, with its senior members warning that today’s presentation will be an exercise in deception rather than an honest account of the country’s economic circumstances.
Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles expects the Government to engage in a massive attempt to deceive the public, while former energy minister Stuart Young has dismissed the Prime Minister’s pre-Budget projection of a “bright future” as hogwash and lies.
PNM whip Marvin Gonzales, meanwhile, says the Government will use the settlement of negotiations with Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) workers as part of what he calls its “promises and lies budget.”
All three spoke yesterday, on the eve of today’s 2027 Budget presentation.
Beckles said, “In the same way they deceived the country during their election campaign, and they deceived in the 2026 budget, I expect no different on Monday (today).”
She added, “I anticipate this Government to completely sidestep the fact that they’ve plunged this country into economic decline, despite positive expectations when they entered Government.”
Beckles said she also expects the Government to blame the People’s National Movement (PNM) for the UNC’s mismanagement of the economy.
“The Finance Minister will beat his chest and repeat promises he said were already delivered…I expect a song about brighter days ahead because the current circumstances are terrible.”
She added, “Their promise of wage increases and salary arrears have sputtered, with public servants experiencing the stark reality that this Government never intended to pay the full arrears to begin with.
“They’ve exhibited no sense of accountability. If last year’s Budget debate is any indicator, I expect the Finance Minister to close off debate before we’ve completed our scrutiny.”
Meanwhile, Young said, “The data and facts overwhelmingly and clearly show that Kamla’s Kakistocracy posse is destroying the energy sector and T&T’s economy. There have been tens of thousands of job losses – retail stores closing, malls empty, bars and restaurants shutting down, small and medium-sized businesses shutting down, workers in the energy sector losing jobs, they terminated workers at CEPEP, URP, HDC, Heritage, NGC, PPGPL, throughout ministries, WASA (with more to be sent home soon), T&TEC, etc.”
Slamming the UNC’s “gutting” of the Office of Procurement Regulation and reiterating corruption concerns, Young added, “They’re interfering with the management of FCB and Republic Bank. Ask yourself why? Is it to get hold of what those banks have in them and for their financiers, family and friends to dip in? Who is winning? – not T&T!”
Gonzales said, “This Budget will be a political statement packed with lies and promises. They’ll announce they settled outstanding WASA negotiations and make other political statements that are detached from reality or truth.”
“But when the Budget is analysed in the Standing Finance Committee deliberations when the Opposition questions the Government on items, the population will again witness that the UNC is just up to its usual fallback formula – tricks, lies and distraction.”
Gonzales added, “It’s obvious Kamla would boast about ‘jobs coming ’-she presided over the loss of thousands of jobs since assuming office! Everything she promised in the 2026 Budget turned out to be a bag of lies, and she’s sending her Finance Minister to deliver more on Monday.”
“And she intends to use WASA workers in the Parliament as part of her strategy of deceit.”
