Jun 2015 Financial News

THA in $5.7bn budget

Jun 23, 2015

Delivering his second budget presentation, themed Continued Delivery in Challenging Times, Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Finance Secretary Joel Jack focused on issues of crime and tourism, both of which he said went hand-in-hand to ensure sustainability of the island.

He said the recurrent estimates for fiscal 2016 required a total expenditure of $3.36 billion.

Jack also waded in on Minister of Tobago Development Delmon Baker who made comments regarding Tobago’s crime situation. 

Baker, who had spoken at a function had said: “And I want to frighten you. Your chances of being shot dead are higher in Tobago because of our population size than in Trinidad; that crime rate in Tobago, because of the size of the population, 50,000, is the highest in the country.”

In response Jack described such statements as unfounded, venomous, highly irresponsible, a slap in the face of all Tobagonians and pose a serious threat to the Tobago brand and Tobago’s image.

He said according to police statistics, serious crimes were on the decrease by some 16 per cent in 2014 compared to 2013 and a 24 per cent reduction compared to 2012. 

“The detection rate, though still low, shows steady improvements from 19.7 per cent in 2012, to 20.3 per cent in 2013 to 25.1 per cent in 2014.

“Though the statistics illustrate overall improvements on the issue of security on the island, there is still work to be done, especially with respect to incidents of minor crimes, such as indecent assault and possession of drugs, where the records show only a five per cent reduction in incidents between 2013 and 2014,” Jack said.

Saying while national security was not the only responsibility of the THA Jack expressed disappointment that promises made by the Government to construct the Old Grange and Roxborough Police Stations failed to materialise.

Jack, who delivered the 58-page document, said it was important to acknowledge the welfare of all Tobagonians and tourists.

He added: “If we are to continue inviting the rest of the world to share our beautiful island we must assure them of safety and security.

“As we continue our efforts to propel our tourism sector it is incumbent to treat every single incident of serious crime with high priority... regardless of the number each case must be treated as one too many. 

“We must adopt a zero tolerance policy for any deviant behaviour. We must be vigilant in our respective neighbourhoods and refuse to turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to anything that threatens our island.” 

Health sector to get boost

Jack said combating lifestyle diseases remained a critical challenge for health practitioners and policy-makers. 

The Division of Health and Social Services would implement several initiatives all aimed at combatting lifestyle disease, including the Integrated Primary Health Care Programme, the Healthy Home Programme and the Healthy Family Programme and a programme of exercise and diet modification, Jack added.

The Development Programme Estimates, he said, identified several investments in health infrastructure and support services which would ultimately provide Tobagonians with greater access to health care. Proposed activities include: 

• The construction of the Moriah Health Centre — $20 million.

• The expansion of primary health care which includes an upgrade of the Roxborough Health Centre for use as a district health facility and the renovation of 17 health centres at a cost of $15 million.

• The establishment of an Oncology Unit — $2.5 million.

• The provision of dental equipment to Charlottesville and Canaan Health Centres and the purchase of a mobile dental unit — $3 million.

• The purchase and installation of equipment at the Scarborough Hospital — $7 million.

• The establishment of a Non Communicable Disease Registry — $1.3 million.

• Expansion work at the Studley Park Integrated Waste Facility — $8 million.

Establishment of an affiliate university

The THA intends to establish a university in Tobago. 

Jack said many foreign universities expressed interest in setting up campuses or affiliate colleges overseas partly to develop their particular research specialisations and partly to give its professors and students the opportunity to spend part of their time in a different learning environment. 

“Such affiliate campuses can bring many benefits to the host territories, including tourism from friends and relatives of students and professors, increased sales of local goods and services, including repair and maintenance services, and stimulation of the construction industry during the construction phase,” Jack added.

ICT a priority

Jack said the Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) had the potential to be a growth enabler for Tobago’s economy as it could augment the value proposition of the island and enhance competitiveness, regionally and globally.

He said while the THA was not going to undertake initiatives which the private sector was capable of doing, the THA’s first initiative would be to upgrade its website and develop a mobile app to provide information useful to Tobagonians and visitors to Tobago to make informed choices and decisions. 

Jack said three areas in which useful information would be developed would be the Labour Exchange Bureau where organisations and individuals would be invited to register their supply of services and those desirous of finding and employing such services can make contact and do so through the website. 

The second would be the certification of hotels and guest houses where facilities which meet standards validated by the Division of Tourism would be identified on the website with direct access to the websites of the particular facility.

“The third area we propose to develop in conjunction with the Division of Agriculture is the publication of wholesale and retail prices and available quantities of agricultural produce,” Jack added.

 

Source:
Geisha Kowlessar
Trinidad Guardian
Tuesday June 23, 2015

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-06-22/tha-57bn-budget