An honest budget, says Al Rawi

Al Rawi, Education Minister Anthony Garcia and Tobago House of Assembly Secretary Orville London told Newsday that the budget was “a balanced one” with “shared responsibilities” in the development process and in economic recovery.

In the words of Al Rawi, “Not only in terms of spreading the burden of development, but in terms of shared responsibilities, and in the incentives that have been granted and which are critical to our development.” Looking at the incentives to be given to the public / private partnership model in housing, he said, “it is necessary because the State just cannot do it alone.

That’s way you stimulate economic growth in the private and public sector simultaneously.” Noting that the security, education and health sectors were given allocations very much on par with what had been given in recent years, he said, all of the benefits will be revealed in the upcoming budget debate.

Meanwhile, Garcia said he was also satisfied with the allocation for education. “It is in keeping with what we requested.” However, he said, “it must not be seen as one ministry getting more than the other. I see it as a collective effort and we must combine all our efforts to ensure that this Government moves the country forward and upwards to bring relief to our population.” The main thrust of his allocation, he said, was to provide quality education to students, to ensure that the school environment was comfortable and conducive to learning, that teaching takes place, and that the curricula were up to standard to benefit all of the actors in education and development.

Given the current economic situation that the country was in, he said, he was sure every other minister was happy with the allocation his or ministry received.