Budget Day now October 4

THE 2004/2005 Budget will be presented in the House of Representatives on October 4, with Parliament to resume on October 1 as a forerunner to the Budget. According to top Government officials yesterday, October 4 is the most likely date for Prime Minister Patrick Manning to unveil an expected $22 billion Budget to the population. Upon his arrival at Piarco International Airport on Sunday, the Prime Minister said Government had to reorganise its schedule and the Budget will be presented in early October. Manning also confirmed exclusive information obtained by Newsday that the original Budget date for Trinidad and Tobago was September 6.

The Prime Minister said he had other assignments, including a September 24 address to the United Nations General Assembly, which would require him to be away from Trinidad and Tobago. Manning also said he will be returning to Cuba in late October/early November for another medical check up. The Prime Minister had a successful pacemaker implant performed in Cuba on August 20 and reiterated on Sunday that he was in perfect health following that procedure. Manning also underwent eye surgery in Cuba and as a result, does not have to wear glasses again. Government officials said given Manning’s local and overseas commitments and the time period required to debate and pass the Budget in both Houses of Parliament, October 4 now appears to be the most feasible time for Budget Day with October 11 being a possible alternative. Checks of the parliamentary records suggest that Manning has a preference to presenting the Budget on a Monday in October, having presented the  2002/2003 and 2003/2004 Budgets in Parliament on Monday October 21, 2002 and Monday October 6, 2003 respectively.

While parliamentary sources had no idea up to yesterday when Parliament will resume, they did not eliminate the possibility of an October 1 resumption date with Budget Day to follow on October 4. Parliament was adjourned on July 6, with the final sitting of the Senate on that day, to facilitate repairs on the roof of the Red House and to date, those works are still ongoing. Leader of Government Business in the Lower House, Ken Valley, said Government had to pass the Budget by October 31 and had time on its hands. The Prime Minister said there were “a few proposals” Government had to address before it could bring the Budget to Parliament. At Thursday’s post-Cabinet news conference, Junior Finance Minister Conrad Enill confirmed information obtained by Newsday that the Budget was almost ready. The Ministries of National Security, Health, Education and Science, Technology and Tertiary Education will be the Budget’s major beneficiaries.

Last week, National Security Minister Martin Joseph said his Ministry’s budget proposals were well advanced. On Sunday, Health Minister John Rahael expressed optimism that his Ministry would receive increased funding in the Budget. Enill said other government ministries will not be starved for funds at the expense of national security, even though emphasis is being placed on crime in the Budget. Enill  hinted that Government would address the issue of rising food prices in the Budget and did not rule out the possibility of eliminating VAT from certain food items.