The Opposition Leader is calling on the Government to state whether there is a shortage of rations at the nation's military bases.
This, as the Opposition continues to question whether the Independence Day Parade and fireworks display are being cancelled because the new Government has run out of money.
00:00The opposition leader's response to one cabinet member's criticism of her, as she pointed out during a media conference on Monday,
00:17that detainees during the state of emergency are being kept at two military bases in Trinidad.
00:23Where's the prime minister in all of this? Because if it is that you are having financial difficulties, then I think the country needs to know.
00:31It was Legal Affairs Minister Saddam Hussein who announced the decision to cancel the 2025 Independence Day parade on fireworks display on the advice of state security experts.
00:42So at this time, the government has taken a very difficult decision to not disrupt these successes with respect to what we have made so far in the state of emergency.
00:55However, Minister Hussein responded to a question from the media about the cost of the state-sponsored Independence events.
01:01At this time, we as a government, we took the decision that we will use the savings from these particular functions and events for fight against crime.
01:11Those figures will amount to millions.
01:15The minister referred to the national deficit of over $9 billion, which the UNC-led government has blamed on the former PNM administration.
01:23Opposition MP and former Finance Minister Colm Imbert referred to the new government.
01:28They knew they had the money to pay for independence.
01:31And I want to make the point.
01:32A military parade is standard in many countries in the world to celebrate your escape from colonialism.
01:42It's an important thing.
01:44And therefore, the whole issue of money, that has to be secondary.
01:49MP Imbert also referred to the media review of the present budget for fiscal 2025.
01:54Of course, if you don't have the money, you have a problem.
01:57But I did not see any issue and I did not hear any of the ministers say that they did not have the money to pay the $1.5 million for the independence parade.
02:09And if you add up how much they spent on the Modi trip and how much they spent on the ceremonial opening of parliament,
02:15the two combined cost more than the independence parade.
02:19So it's a question of priorities.
02:21The opposition leader also questioned the government's priorities.
02:25Because if it is that you are having financial difficulties, then I think the country needs to know.
02:31Because if you recall that during the mid-term review, they were saying that we were going to crash the economy.
02:37If you recall all of this, but they came for the buyment, even as it relates to CPAP.
02:40They asked for an additional, was it $60 million for CPAP?
02:45And then everybody went.
02:48And so what happened to that $60 million if there is no CPAP since you had the mid-term review?
02:54The government has called on the nation to hold a National Day of Prayer on Independence Day.
02:59The opposition leader said she is waiting on further details about this from the government.
Be the first to comment