Tobago Correspondent
Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine has condemned the Government’s allocation to the assembly, as despite a $64 million increase, he predicts funding woes will continue to plague Tobago for yet another year.
The total allocation for Tobago in 2024 amounts to $2.585 billion, with $2.298 billion allocated for recurrent expenditure, $260 million for development programme expenditure and $18 million for the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP).
This allocation represents a significant boost of $64.2 million compared to the previous fiscal year’s allocation of $2.521 billion.
However, Augustine said the 4.35 per cent allocation in the Budget still falls far below the recommended range proposed by the Dispute Resolution Commission and agreed upon by Parliament in 2001.
Speaking via WhatsApp message, Augustine told Guardian Media he was frustrated over the lackluster allocation.
He said, “We could have all stayed at home, turned off our televisions and practically predicted what the THA would be allocated. It does not even inch close to the middle percentile of the range recommended by the Dispute Resolution Commission and agreed to by Parliament in 2001.”
The THA is also expected to receive its full allocation for fiscal year 2023. Additionally, an extra $678.5 million has been allocated to various ministries and state agencies to execute major projects in Tobago, exceeding the budgetary allocation to the THA.
Augustine spoke about the lack of transparency regarding funds allocated to Tobago through Central Government ministries and agencies.
“We continue to hear about the millions to be spent by other ministries in Tobago on the six scheduled items, but we never get accountability for if and how those monies are really spent in Tobago. This lack of transparency exacerbates the challenge of ensuring effective utilisation of funds for the island’s development,’’ Augustine said.
Compounding these issues, he highlighted the deteriorating state of national security in Tobago.
Despite not having responsibility for several key security items, Augustine noted that the THA is consistently asked to deviate from its legal mandate and assist the security forces on a daily basis.
He lamented that this is a strain on resources that further limits the THA’s ability to allocate funds towards its own development objectives.
He said the THA has been left with a limited budget of $260 million for its development programme in 2024.
This amount is expected to cover a range of crucial initiatives, including road works and infrastructure improvements, sports and community facility completions, debt repayment to contractors, building renovations, school repairs, scholarship and bursary programmes for young people, upgrades to healthcare facilities, and improvements to tourism plants and beach facilities.
He said, “Evidently, the THA’s limited allocation will not be sufficient to meet the growing needs of the island.”
Deputy Chief secretary Faith B. Yisrael also expressed disappointment despite the increase in budgetary allocation.
She said, “It seems that the Government is actively trying to use the budget to ensure the people of Tobago don’t realise the kind of development that we think we deserve.”
Meanwhile, chairman of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce’s Tobago Division, Curtis Douglas, welcomed the increase but is concerned about how the THA will use the additional $64 million.
Similarly, Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association president Alpha Lord thanked the Government for the increase to the island’s allocation.
He said, “Every penny we receive is greatly appreciated and it would go towards the development of the island. But a lot of that money would be directed to recurring expenditure and not a lot of significant new investment.”