Catch up, Tobago

TOBAGONIANS should now be happy to know that the “bad old days” of acrimony between the THA and the central government are now definitely over. Indeed, after Monday’s Budget, they may now look forward to a new and robust era of development in the sister isle stemming from the spirit of cooperation and harmony that has developed between Scarborough and Port-of-Spain. Ultimate evidence of the change, of course, comes in the form of dollars and cents; where the THA under NAR’s Hochoy Charles once waged a running battle with the UNC administration over inadequate funding, the Assembly under PNM’s Orville London will have a total of $1.3 billion to spend next year — a significant increase in funding which may well see an enhancement of economic activity on the island, particularly an expansion of capital projects.

“Looking ahead,” said the Finance Minister, “and bearing in mind my statement a year ago that Tobago needs to “catch up” with Trinidad, the recurrent budget for Tobago for fiscal 2004 stands at $734 million and the development budget at $166 million. Beyond this, the Minister of Finance will assist the Assembly in accessing funding up to a maximum of $400 million to undertake urgent and critical investment projects. This is a first for Tobago and means that, for fiscal 2004, the total resources available to the Assembly will amount to $1.3 billion.”
If we understand the Minister’s proposal correctly, it means that for the first time Tobago will be able to borrow extra money, to the tune of $400 million, for its own development. Our feeling is that the THA should be careful to spend its recurrent and development allocations as wisely and as efficiently as possible and to resort to borrowing — thus increasing the already-too-high public debt — only where the need becomes absolutely necessary. Whatever the case, we are pleased that at long last the THA will be able to undertake several of Tobago’s long delayed and much needed projects, including the reconstruction of the Scarborough Library, the Transportation Hub in Scarborough, desilting of the Hillsborough Dam, expansion of the Crown Point Airport Terminal and the Scarborough jetty, a new financial complex, the Roxborough Plaza and Market in addition to construction of a number of bridges and repairs to secondary roads.

According to the Prime Minister, the Budget provides “the platform on which Tobago and Trinidad can expect to reach our common 2020 destination as partners — side by side — and for the benefit of every citizen in both islands.” This newspaper has always considered Tobago a special case and the only reason why we could not support the agitations of Mr Hochoy Charles for more money was the number of questionable “investments” and transactions to which he committed the THA and his apparent ambition to become the Prime Minister of an independent Tobago. We are pleased that a “fruitful and harmonious relationship” now exists between the THA and the central government and that Tobagonians are being given the wherewithal to “catch up.” Still, the level of funding in the 2004 Budget must be seen as a positive vote of confidence in the THA’s commitment to prudent, efficient and accountable spending.