Govt picks a Budget date

WHILE SOME parliamentary sources claimed that September 6 is Budget Day in Trinidad and Tobago, Leader of Government Business Ken Valley said Cabinet has a particular date in mind and a final decision about Budget Day could be taken when it meets tomorrow at Whitehall. Prime Minister Patrick Manning, who had a pacemaker implant in Cuba last Friday, returns home tomorrow around 3 am but Government officials hinted that Acting Prime Minister Joan Yuille-Williams could chair the meeting in his place.

Newsday exclusively reported that September 6 was being considered as Budget Day in TT and Manning would unveil a $22 billion package in the House of Representatives on that day. Contacted yesterday, Valley said Government “had a date in mind” for the 2004/2005 Budget but things still have to be confirmed. While Valley could not reveal the dates for Budget Day or Parliament’s resumption, he said both events would not happen on the same day. He added that at no time in TT’s history was the Budget presented immediately upon the resumption of Parliament. Legal Affairs Minister Danny Montano said “no definitive” date has been set for the Budget and the Prime Minister will make a final determination on this matter once he returns home. Montano added that Parliament was adjourned to enable certain repairs to the Red House to be completed. The minister said while the objective was to complete the repairs by early September, he had no idea what was the status of those works and believed Parliament could resume sittings sometime in mid-September.

The Ministries of National Security, Health, Education and Science, Technology and Tertiary Education will reportedly be major beneficiaries of the upcoming Budget. Contacted yesterday about his Ministry’s budgetary proposals, National Security Minister Martin Joseph said the process was “well along the way.” In a July 28 address to the nation, Manning instructed Joseph to “revise his budget to provide further critical resources to assist the new Commissioner of Police who is now paying attention to certain hot spots which require constant attention.” In that address, the Prime Minister hinted that national security will be top priority in both the Budget and Government’s new legislative agenda. Valley said the latter is still being worked out. Montano said his Ministry has joined those who completed their budgetary proposals and all ministries were supposed to meet this week for “a final round.”

The Trade and Industry, Tourism, Works and Transport and Science, Technology and Tertiary Education Ministries have all completed their budgetary proposals to date. Asked how close the Budget was to completion, Valley said work was ongoing and hinted that it could be finished 24 hours or less before it is presented in Parliament. UNC chairman Wade Mark said the Opposition has received no word about either Budget Day or the resumption of Parliament.