Budget Day — October 6

Prime Minister Patrick Manning yesterday confirmed October 6 as “Budget Day” — the day of presentation of the 2003-2004 Budget. The date October 6 was first published by Newsday. He also announced at a post-Cabinet media briefing that the barriers at Marli Street would come down “anytime now.” He said the Government’s decision was to permit one-way traffic on Marli Street. Speaking to the media on a variety of issues, Manning also said he did not regard as a put down, the decision of US President George W Bush not to invite him to a Caricom Prime Ministers breakfast meeting.

Asked if he was left out because of TT’s stance on the International Criminal Court, Manning said he did not know. But he assured the breakfast meeting was not of any high priority. He noted the current initiative being pursued by the TT Government for him to meet President Bush, in respect of energy and other issues. On the issue of kidnapping, Manning said that while recent developments had placed kidnapping back on the front burner, he believed that the levels of security in TT, and Port-of-Spain in particular, were far more secure  than most cities in the world. About the protest action by State attorneys, the Prime Minister said the matter was now before a ministerial committee chaired by Public Administration Minister Dr Lenny Saith. Manning conceded that the increased demands from the attorneys for improved terms and conditions was partly a ripple effect of the increases given to junior doctors in the public service several months ago. However, commenting on reports that a Government committee was recommending a sectoral minimum wage of $30 a hour, Manning said Government supported the principle of a differential minimum wage in different sectors. “Different sectors support different levels of wage and those that can support higher wages should be allowed to do so,” he stated, adding that Government would examine the $30 wage proposal in this context.