Cabinet held an all-day retreat yesterday for Ministers to report on Ministry plans and review Budget 2020 proposals with Prime Minister Keith Rowley ahead of his upcoming departure for the United States.
Rowley who returned from having talks with US officials last Sunday is expected to leave again for the US on the weekend to attend the United Nations General Assembly. This began in New York on Tuesday and ends September 30.
PNM Government officials confirmed the position to Guardian Media yesterday.
Rowley hosted the retreat which began around 8 am at the Diplomatic Centre and ended just after 5 pm.
Communication Minister Donna Cox told Guardian Media that ministers spoke on plans and programmes in their respective ministries. After the session, several ministers leaving the Diplomatic Centre said it was “very productive”. PNM MP Adrian Leonce confirmed talks focused on the Budget.
The government had given no official indication that the retreat was being held. However, it was mentioned during at least one of the two Joint Select Committee meetings held by Parliament yesterday. At the meeting of the Social Services and Public Administration Committee, Minister in Finance Allyson West and Works Minister Rohan Sinanan were absent. At the subsequent Public Accounts and Appropriations committee meeting, Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat, Minister in the PM’s office, Ayanna Webster Roy and Minister in Energy Nicole Ollivierre were also absent.
Words and pictures of the retreat were subsequently issued yesterday afternoon on the PNM’s Facebook website rather than via official Government channel. Attendees included ministers and junior ministers.
Absent were PNM backbenchers who have no portfolio: MPs Marlene McDonald, Ancel Antoine and Darryl Smith.
At the head table were Rowley along with National Security Minister Stuart Young (at his right hand), Attorney General Faris Al Rawi and Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis (at his left). Finance Minister Colm Imbert and Minister in Finance West headed the tables with ministers Robinson- Regis’ Ministry is playing a major role in 2020 Budget planning as it did for the 2019 Budget. Imbert in the 2019 Budget speech had said T&T’s transformation was now being anchored on the National Development Strategy outlined in PNM’s Vision 2030 document. He said that was developed by Robinson-Regis.
Government officials said Ministers were alerted over a week ago to prepare to report on their Ministry’s plans/programmes. Feedback was expected to help finalise the Budget.
They explained it was necessary to have the retreat yesterday since Rowley is likely to return from the US around month-end. The UN General Assembly which Rowley’s attending for the first time, concludes September 30 and the Budget is being presented October 7. Since that date is so near and due to his expected departure on the weekend, officials said Rowley wanted to review - before he left- all Ministries’ plans towards this Budget which will cater for a year when two elections are due.
They hinted Budget spending may be more than this year’s $51 billion package. They said contents may be designed to “feed the ground” considering Local Government polls later this year and general elections next year.
On Monday, Rowley said the Local Government date would be announced “soon”. PNM officials said the Local Government term ends November 28 and any election will have to be on either December 2, 9 or 16th. They didn’t expect it next year, the outermost dates in which that election can be held.
“You can’t fight a political ‘war’ on hungry belly, you need to feed the ‘army’,” they added.
Apart from infrastructural projects, they projected concessions, but couldn’t say if this would involve grants, further housing initiatives or other “sweeteners”. Tomorrow Parliament debates the Government Savings Bond (Amendment) Bill to provide tax-free Government bonds to be issued for purchase of HDC houses. It also increases the total value of bonds issued under law from $ 2B to $ 3B. The facility will be part of the Budget.
Since ministers met yesterday, the weekly Cabinet meeting will be held tomorrow morning instead, officials confirmed.
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar said last night, “We eagerly await the outcome of their retreat; we trust they’ll share with the population what they intend to do to improve the quality of life of the battered population.”