Couva South MP and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Barry Padarath says the new administration has made strong progress in its first 90 days since the General Election, delivering on key campaign promises and offering more compassionate, people-centered governance.
The United National Congress (UNC) won the April 28 General Election with 26 seats, upsetting the People’s National Movement (PNM), which secured 13. The Tobago People’s Party (TPP) claimed the remaining two seats in Tobago.
Responding to questions from Guardian Media yesterday, as the Government marks its 90th day since winning the national poll, Padarath, who also holds the Public Utilities portfolio, said the Government’s early performance marks a clear shift from what he described as years of stagnation under the former PNM-led administration.
In outlining the Government’s progress, Padarath listed several promises already delivered:
1) Scrapping the proposed Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority (TTRA)
2) Halting the WASA Transformation Plan, preserving thousands of jobs
3) Cancelling planned increases to electricity tariffs
4) Removing the traffic demerit points system
5) Appointing a new Police Commissioner, working closely with the Government to tackle crime
6) Improving access to water, social services, and healthcare
“This administration has taken on a more compassionate and people-centred approach with very strong, decisive leadership from the Prime Minister. In the first 90 days, the Government has worked extremely well. Top marks for the Government,” Padarath said.
He also stressed the difficult conditions inherited by the new Cabinet.
“There has been no honeymoon period as the population divorced themselves from a period of stagnation under the PNM,” he said.
“Better days are ahead for the country; it requires tough decisions, a long-term vision for the country and a sustainable plan for our children,” he added.
As for his own performance, Padarath said he preferred to let the public be the judge.
"In my first 90 days I have approached governance with my best foot forward, I have always promised to be a voice inside and outside of the Parliament, I would like to think I have kept that promise and that I have bettered people’s lives with a better water supply than when I first went into public utilities as a main priority,” he said.
But PNM chairman Marvin Gonzales issued a scathing rebuttal, accusing the new Government of fuelling unemployment by failing to renew thousands of contracts since taking office.
“Within 90 days, this Government has terminated the employment of over 20,000 workers, sending lives in a tailspin. They have systematically and in Hitler-style wickedness, attacked citizens and fired them because of their perceived political alignment,” Gonzales alleged.
“No government in the history of this blessed Republic sent home 20,000 workers in just 90 days. They are filled with political spite and vindictiveness,” he also claimed.
He also questioned Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s visibility and leadership style.
“The Prime Minister is a work-from-home office holder and has ceded her authority to a reckless and lying Minister in the office of the PM,” he claimed.
“They are out of their depth and have shown their inability to manage this country. The citizens now realise that they’ve got a 6 for a 9 and the Government tries weekly distractions to hide their incompetence and their absent captain.”
Efforts yesterday to get a comment from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for her take on Government’s performance since winning the election were unsuccessful as she did not take questions while at the UNC’s headquarters in Chaguanas.