Wednesday, September 9 2009

THE UNC-controlled Chaguanas Borough Corporation (CBC) was one of the main beneficiaries of increased funding given to the Ministry of Local Government in the $44 billion 2010 Budget.

According to the 2010 Draft Estimates of Recurrent Expenditure, the ministry’s expenditure increased from $1.2 to $1.6 billion. Out of a total of $1.2 billion allocated to local government bodies for fiscal 2010, the CBC received an allocation of $65 million which was an increase from the $60 million it was allocated for fiscal 2009.

The CBC made headlines in July when UNC councillors Falicia Issahak and Narsingh Ramberan voted with the corporation’s PNM councillors to elect Natasha Navas as Chaguanas Mayor and remove then mayor Suruj Rambachan from office. Navas was in Parliament on Monday for the Budget presentation.

Contacted yesterday, Navas said she was not aware that the corporation received an increase.