By Leiselle Maraj and Darcel Choy Thursday, September 9 2010

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TOBAGO CONNECTION: Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley talks to TOP leader Ashworth Jack. In the background is THA chairman Orville London....

Minority leader in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), Ashworth Jack yesterday urged the ruling People’s National Movement to use the money allocated to Tobago in the 2010-2011 National Budget to benefit all Tobagonians.

In the budget presentation read yesterday by Finance Minister Winston Dookeran in Parliament, Government assured that $2.5 billion or 5.24 percent of total Government expenditure will benefit the people of Tobago.

This figure includes a $1.9 billion direct allocation to the THA and $460.1 million and $133.2 million to be spent in Tobago by other ministries. The percentage of total Government expenditure is higher than the 4.03 percent allocation required by law, Dookeran said.

“We owe it to children, to future generations to use every cent vested to the best of our ability. I want to admonish the Tobago House of Assembly... to use money to the best of their ability that every Tobagonian is treated as an equal.

One of the things I have discovered is people that are not of persuasion of the party in office in THA experience trouble to access a number of social programmes and after May 24, it became worse. I hope this is seen as a departure from this,” he said.

Jack said the direct allocation of $1.9 billion meant Government adhered to the 4.03 percent stipulated in Act 14 of 1996 as the minimum amount of the total Government expenditure to be allocated to Tobago.

The maximum amount was decided as 6.9 percent. He said prior to this Act, the THA received between 1.8 and 2.2 percent of expenditure.

“I still hope there will come a day when we are closer to the 6.9 percent than to the 4.03 percent. I know that we will hear from the other party that we only get 4.03 percent but it is interesting that the other people were always comfortable with it. I am hoping that comfort level continues,” he said.

Jack noted that since 2003, the THA did not receive the 4.03 percent in direct allocation to the THA and commended Government for granting the minimum percentage.

He said the THA however will continue to negotiate with Government until they receive a percentage closer to the maximum.

“There is more that could be done but taken into consideration all the other things, I think we could do with what we have. We have to maximise the use of what we have,” he said.

Jack explained one major problem faced in Trinidad and Tobago is accountability for money spent, projects not completed on time and cost overruns.

Jack urged Government to place great effort in ensuring accountability, efficiency and timeliness in the delivery of State projects.

THA Chief Secretary Orville London said the allocation to Tobago neither excites nor disappoints.

“The Minister of Finance would have given the THA exactly what is required to do by law which is 4.03 percent of the national budget,” he said.

In Government’s plan to develop Tobago, Dookeran said they would provide incentives for persons wanting to establish business enterprises in the North East region. London said he is waiting for more details on that plan and looks forward to consultations on the matter.