PROMISES... PROMISES... PROMISES

During the last fiscal year, the country was expecting to see the construction of 16 new secondary schools and an upgrade of 100 secondary schools. Thirteen replacement primary schools were expected to be built and ten others were expected to be upgraded for special children. The construction of 43 early childhood care and education centres was announced as part of Government’s plan to ensure that the objective of universal access to pre-school education by 2010 was met. Government also promised an objective of free tertiary education by the end of 2008.

To date, no new secondary, nor pre-school has been constructed. However, sources say there are plans to begin construction on pre-schools before the end of 2005. Regarding the upgrading of 100 secondary schools, several have been de-shifted, while others have been upgraded from five-year to seven-year schools.

Meanwhile, with the expansion of the GATE programme, some tertiary education students have already benefited from the free tertiary education promise.

The programme, which replaced the Dollar for Dollar programme introduced under the UNC administration, mandates that at least half the tuition fees of tertiary education students requesting financial assistance be paid by Government. The validity of requests for additional financial assistance would be determined after the assessment of the information provided by the students on the "means" forms.

Of the 2004/2005 $27 billion budget, $2.3 billion was allocated to the National Security Ministry. The ministry was expected to obtain a new radar system that would provide a 360 degree coverage of the entire coastline on a 24 hour basis.

The defence force was expected to be enhanced, with the introduction of three offshore vessels, three fast interceptor vessels, armed helicopters for surveillance and drug intra diction, armoured personnel carriers for force protection, and communications and weapon systems. The opening of a Police Training Academy for the continuous training and retraining of police officers was also one of the promises contained in that budget.

Of these, the ministry has so far purchased the radar system, which has five operational sites, and two helicopters, which are being used by the Special Anti-crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (SAUTT). The outstanding promises are "expected" to be kept soon.

The $1.86 billion allocated to the Health Ministry, according to the Prime Minister, was to enable Trinidad and Tobago to "enjoy a health care system that will set new standards of quality and accessibility by 2006."