By Clint Chan Tack Friday, September 11 2009

OPPOSITION LEADER Basdeo Panday kicks off the 2010 Budget debate in the House of Representatives at 10 am today.

Yesterday, the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) and the Opposition United National Congress (UNC) were in the final stages of preparing their respective parliamentarians for what is expected to be a keen debate.

Contacted yesterday at his home in Philippine, South Trinidad, Panday told Newsday he was in the middle of preparing his contribution for today’s debate. The UNC leader declined to say what are some of the main areas he will address in his presentation or whether it will be three hours in duration. On Monday, Finance Minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira took three hours to present the Budget. In beginning the Opposition’s Budget reply, Panday can speak for a similar length of time if he chooses.

After Nunez-Tesheira’s presentation, Panday said he would focus on several areas of mal-administration by the PNM in his reply.

The UNC leader is expected to zero in particularly on several new fiscal measures in the budget such as the proposed property tax regime which several citizens have described as callous.

All Opposition MPs are expected to target specific areas of the budget which are in line with their portfolios in the UNC’s shadow cabinet.

On the UNC side, front benchers MPs Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Vasant Bharath, Dr Roodal Moonilal and Dr Tim Gopeesingh are expected to follow Panday. Couva South MP Kelvin Ramnath is currently recuperating from angioplasty surgery and expected to make his contribution next week.

Asked whether he thought renegade UNC MPs Jack Warner, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and Winston “Gypsy” Peters would tow the party line in the debate, Panday replied: “They are irrelevant.” Warner, Maharaj and Peters will make their contributions next week.

Government used yesterday’s weekly Cabinet meeting at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s to fine-tune its preparations for the debate.

National Security Minister Martin Joseph or Works Minister Colm Imbert could reply after Panday today. All government ministers will be giving accounts of the achievements of their ministries over fiscal 2009 and expand on areas highlighted by Nunez-Tesheira regarding priorities for fiscal 2010.

Before today’s debate begins, Nunez-Tesheira will lay the Value Added Tax Order 2009 and the Provisional Collection of Taxes Order in the House. Martin Joseph will also lay the Biological and Toxin Weapons Bill 2009.