Friday, September 10 2010

THE EDITOR: Dr Rowley’s comment on the budget indicts him and his party in a devastating sense. In record time he has admitted that his party employed clichés and empty promises in its annual budget exercises as a deliberate means to buoy up the hopes of the nation while it pursued its own agenda.

That the PPGORTT is committed to good governance is evidenced by its unequivocal jettisoning of negative PNM projects rather than “piggy backing” on disastrous PNM policies and endeavours save and except for the tunnel to Maracas. Perhaps this idea has been temporarily retained as a red herring distraction for PNM hopes of vindication?

The focus on urgent and important measures makes the promises of the PPGORTT meaningful and testifies to its intent.

The decision of the PPGORTT to embrace deficit spending as a necessity at this time will require an amendment to the Central Bank Act which at present limits the borrowing ceiling of government against assets held. This will simultaneously permit the issue of TT currency to increase – a necessary measure if we are to escape the deficit trap.

We must urge the PPGORTT to implement its programmes and plans, and not permit its promises to languish in perennial renewals as admittedly practiced by Dr Rowley’s cohorts.

The PPGORTT has presented a reasonable blueprint for governance and must now ensure fulfillment.

The urgent matters that will derail the best plans of the PPGORTT such as repeat flooding and murder must continue to receive priority attention if we are to avoid failure. Floods of water and blood threaten our future.

And to use an old cliché, having planned its work, the PPGORTT must now work its plan.

The Finance Minister has talked the talk. All ministers must now work the talk.



MF Rahman

via e-mail