00:00I came to the conclusion that this house needed to assemble before the national budget and
00:10to essentially call on the Minister of Finance to allocate to the THA no less than 5.8% of
00:19the national budget to meet Tobago's urgent developmental priorities and to address historical
00:28the funding of Tobago so that we are able to grow at a pace that is equitable and equal
00:36rather to our friends and family in Trinidad.
00:41The Chief Secretary Farley Agustin, speaking during the plenary sitting on Thursday to
00:46treat with Monday's national budget specific to Tobago, is calling on Finance Minister
00:52Col. Imbert to be reasonable and fair to Tobago.
00:56In effect, the motion calls on the Minister of Finance to allocate a reasonable, fair
01:03and just share of the national budget to the Tobago House of Assembly or rather the people
01:09of Tobago and the question for every member present is whether or not you will agree that
01:18what has been allocated over the years, those were unfair and unreasonable and whether the
01:28central government should be more reasonable in its allocation to Tobago.
01:34Mr Agustin explained further.
01:37Anyone who does not support this motion is in essence saying to the people of Tobago
01:43that what we have gotten historically is good enough, is fair enough, is reasonable
01:49enough and no more should be given.
01:54Madam Presiding Officer, the struggle by the Tobago House of Assembly for a reasonable,
02:00fair and just share of the national budget is not a new struggle.
02:06Mr Agustin has this message for the Finance Minister.
02:11We currently do not need any new bill anywhere in the Parliament to get 6.9% or to get the
02:21median of 5.5%.
02:24The Minister of Finance can give it on Monday morning when he reads the budget.
02:29TV6 News contacted Finance Minister Col. Imbert on the request made by the Chief Secretary.
02:36Minister Imbert said,
02:38We have given the Farley THA more than the London THA ever got.
02:43We are very fair and equitable.
02:46And he knows that.
02:48The THA under his administration and over London's administration have also collectively
02:54and individually received far more, both in percentage terms and in actual amounts, under
03:02this administration than they received under the former UNC administration.
03:07He knows that too.
03:10Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
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