Senior Multimedia
Investigative Journalist
joshua.seemungal@guardian.co.tt
Before every General Election in Trinidad and Tobago, competing parties hoping to form the next government present manifestos detailing goals they intend to achieve if elected to power.
With a general election imminent, Guardian Media Investigations Desk take a deeper look at the roadmap the ruling PNM presented to the population ten years ago and examined measurable goals and achievements during their tenure.
Leading up to the August 10th, 2020 General Elections, the incumbent People’s National Movement party presented its manifesto “The Way Forward.” As the winning manifesto, it was the document to guide government policy over the PNM’s next five years in office.
The manifesto had 12 sub-categories listed.
Those examined: Tobago, Creative and Cultural Industries, Supporting Vulnerable Groups, Energy, Sports Tourism, Diversification, Manufacturing, Housing, Procurement, National Security, Works and Transport, and Creating a Digital Society.
However, agriculture was not examined because the category did not list specific, measurable goals.
Of the measurable goals in the 12 sub-categories, less than half, 42 per cent, of initiatives were implemented, 42 per cent were not implemented and 16 per cent were partially implemented.
The category with the most unmet goals was ‘Creating a Digital Society,’ which failed to meet 13 of its 18 listed targets. That’s a non-implementation rate of 72 per cent.
The category with the most completed goals was ‘Energy and Energy Industries,’ which met seven of its nine targets. An implementation rate of 78 per cent.
Today, Guardian Media continues its look at the party’s manifesto initiatives.
Initiatives that were
implemented/goals met:
Procurement - One goal met
• After an eight-year delay, in April 2023, the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act was passed in parliament. The Procurement and Disposal of Public Property (Simplified Procurement) Regulations, 2024 was signed into law, with amendments, on April 5, 2024.
National Security Ministry- Four goals completed
• Procurement of a new state-of-the-art national CCTV system.— A new National CCTV System, with 2,400 cameras, was installed in 2022.
• Commissioning of the construction of two Cape Class Offshore Patrol Vessels from Australia. The vessels arrived in T&T in 2021.
• Investment in further technology for police service, including body cameras and tasers. TTPS awarded a $25 million contract for acquisition of 3,000 body cameras in September. 1,120 police officers were previously given cameras but they have not been used as required. Tasers were also acquired and are in use.
• Strengthening of relationships with various foreign organisations assisting T&T in its fight against transnational and domestic crime.
Partial implementation - Two
• Restructuring of critical units in the Police Service, such as the Special Operations Response Team, White Collar Crime Unit and Social Media Monitoring Unit.—SORT was disbanded after Gary Griffith’s departure as commissioner of police. While a White-Collar Crime Unit was not established, the TTPS created a Cyber and Social Media Unit.
• Launch of the CURE VIOLENCE programme to assist with mediation and intervention in communities with more prevalent crime issues.—Project Building Blocks, based on the CURE model, was launched in 2020 and it was in effect until 2022. It was stopped in 2022, but the programme was listed to restart in the 2024 budget presentation.
Ministry of Works and Transport - Five goals completed
• Water Taxi Walkover in PoS—Completed in November 2020.
• Diego Martin Overpass project - Completed in December 2023.
Two new state-of-the-art Fast Passenger/Car Ferries are being built in Australia and will be delivered by the end of 2020 - Delivered and in operation.
A comprehensive National Drainage Plan is being prepared - The plan was developed.
Electronic vehicle inspection system is being rolled out - launched in March 2022.
Partial implementation - Six
San Fernando Waterfront/Lady Hailes Avenue Upgrade
Completion of Point Fortin Highway from San Fernando to Point Fortin (scheduled for full completion at end of 2020) - The Solomon Hochoy Highway Extension to Point Fortin was commissioned in October 2023. The highway was called the Archibald-De Leon Highway after former national footballers Warren Archibald and Leroy De Leon. Two portions of the highway in Fyzabad and Vance River remain incomplete, while a portion along Mosquito Creek needs repair.
Churchill Roosevelt Highway Extension to Manzanilla - The project began in 2018 but was not completed.
Valencia to Toco Single Lane Highway - The project began and was planned to be finished by 2021 but has not been completed.
Widening of the Churchill Roosevelt Highway - Ongoing, but not yet completed. The project started in January 2024 and had an initial completion date of August 2024. In December, Minister in the Works and Transport Ministry Richie Sookhai promised that the project would be completed by the end of 2024. Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said poor weather caused the completion date to be delayed.
Road Rehabilitation and slope stabilisation on the Moruga Road to upgrade to first-class standard - The Government said the project should be completed in 2025.
CREATING A DIGITAL ECONOMY - Four goals completed
The PNM will ensure that all public entities utilise an e-Procurement platform.
We will remove all taxes on computers, mobile and digital equipment, cell phones, software and accessories - Taxes on electronics were removed in September 2020.
Provide tax credits to businesses that invest in tech start-ups and new tech businesses - Implemented in 2022. Companies are given a 50% tax exemption on the first $100,000 of chargeable income for its first year and for the first $200,000 for the second year of operation.
Provide tax credits to businesses who create employment in the tech industry - Implemented in 2022. Expenditure incurred in creating employment in a technology industry, where the employees comprise a majority of young people, is tax deductible, and an allowance equal to 150% of the actual expenditure incurred in relation to the creation of such employment is also available, up to a maximum of $3 million. Manufacturing companies are also entitled to a reduction in Corporation Tax, namely to 25%, on the first $100,000 that is expended on investments in projects relating to information technology, digitisation, and technology development, to advance growth in the manufacturing industry.
Partial Implementation - One
Implementation of systems that support online learning, remote work and e-commerce will be accelerated
CREATIVE AND CULTURAL INDUSTRIES - Five completed goals
Grow the local film industry by strengthening the production expenditure rebate programme
The Carnival Museum - Opened in March 2021.
Steelpan Manufacturing - The Musical Instruments of Trinidad and Tobago Company (MITTCO) was created in 2020. A steelpan manufacturing facility was opened in August 2022.
Continue to provide direct financial support to artistes and creatives
Promote and provide support for intellectual property protection
DIVERSIFICATION - One completed goal
Expand current foreign exchange windows for exporters and importers of essential items - Forex window was restructured. In November, EximBank’s forex window reopened with US$25 million in monthly allocations.
Partial implementation - One
Reduce tax rates by 5% for significant exporters - In January 2024, an exemption from business levy on revenue earned by a manufacturer from export sales was effected. Business levies are paid at a rate of 0.6% on gross sales or receipts. For companies involved in the manufacturing sector, the Government introduced a one-time credit for manufacturing companies that invest in new machinery, production lines or new equipment, up to a maximum credit of $50,000.
SUPPORTING VULNERABLE GROUPS: Social services delivery - Three completed goals
Implement policies improving the lives of women and children, such as the National Policy on Gender and Development and the National Child Policy.
Support schools and daycare facilities and other community facilities.
Fund domestic violence shelters, transitional facilities, and strategies to end gender-based violence.
Partial implementation - One
Provide support for female-headed and single-father households - A school supplies and book grant of $1,000 was made available to successful applicants in the 2025 Budget. The grant was available to those who met the criteria, including households with incomes of $10,000 or less.
MANUFACTURING - One completed goal
Implement a technology solutions Tax Credit - Companies whose core business activity is technology solution and digitisation are subject to corporation tax at a rate of 50% of the standard rate: on the first TTD$100,000 of chargeable income for income year 2022 and on the first TTD$200,000 of chargeable income for income year 2023.
Partial implementation - Two
Implement a National Apprenticeship Programme - Partially implemented. In 2022, 50 students were selected for a National Apprenticeship Programme for the Wood and Wood Products Manufacturing Sub-sector.
The PNM will support the scrap iron industry by providing the necessary technical support and regulatory and incentive framework - In November, Scrap Iron Dealers’ Association (TTSIDA) president Allan Ferguson said he was ready to go to “war” to save the local industry. In December, Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon met with Ferguson to discuss matters affecting the scrap metal industry.
Unable to quantify success - One
Improve the ease of doing business - The World Bank Group 2020 Ease of Doing Business Report ranked Trinidad and Tobago 105 out of 190 countries in ease of doing business – down nine places since 2016. The report was discontinued in 2021 after the release of an independent report detailing irregularities in the 2020 and 2018 reports, including the manipulation of data. During the last five years, Amcham T&T has called on Government on several occasions to improve the ease of doing business in the country. Trade and Industry Minister Gopee-Scoon has claimed that the Government has improved the ease of doing business.
ENERGY AND ENERGY INDUSTRIES - Seven completed goals
Negotiate an even greater share of energy revenues. In 2022, the Government signed new agreements concerning restructuring Atlantic LNG with bpTT, Shell and the NGC. In December 2023, the National Gas Company secured a 10% stake in an agreement for a new commercial structure for Atlantic LNG.
Review the Petroleum Taxes Act - Amended
Review the application of the Supplemental Petroleum Act - increase the threshold for small onshore producers to $75 per barrel for fiscal 2021 and 2022 - A sustainability incentive for the SPT was also increased for mature or small marine oil fields to a 25% discount.
Actively explore opportunities in the regional energy market
Implement an Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency Policy and Action Plan
Introduce tax credits to encourage investment in carbon capture and storage, and enhanced oil recovery - In 2024, Carbon capture and storage and enhanced oil recovery allowance. An allowance equal to 30% of the actual expenditure incurred investing in carbon capture and storage and enhanced oil recovery is available, up to a maximum of TTD$500,000.
Promote the use of electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles - taxes waived on all qualifying vehicles.
HOUSING - Two completed goals
Housing start-up grants up to $35,000 - the home construction subsidy offers grants up to $50,000
PNM will ensure that up to 20% of all state housing construction projects are reserved for small and medium construction projects.
Partial implementation: One
Squatter regularisation and home ownership - “For Fiscal 2025, we have set a target of building 500 new residential units. This underscores our commitment to addressing housing needs across the country,” Housing Minister Camille Robinson-Regis said in February at a handing-over function. Earlier this year, the Land Settlement Agency, referring to 2015 data, confirmed there are at least 60,000 squatting households on state lands in Trinidad and Tobago.
Housing improvement and repair grants up to $35,000–Home improvement grant is limited to $15,000, while improvement subsidy is up to $20,000, according to the Housing Ministry’s website.
SPORTS TOURISM, LOCAL TOURISM AND RECREATION - One completed goal
Develop a Sports Tourism Master Plan - A Sport Tourism Sub-Policy was published in July, 2021
TOBAGO - Two completed goals
Facilitate the construction of a new and modern airport terminal at the ANR Robinson International Airport - Implemented. The construction of the new airport terminal is approaching completion.
Facilitate the upgrade of the existing airport terminal at Crown Point - Implemented.
Partial Implementation - One
Implement an efficient and effective coastal surveillance programme - the Comprehensive National Coastal Monitoring Programme pilot project began in October 2020.