The Opposition is accusing the Government of underfunding key public utilities, warning that citizens could soon face service disruptions. But Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath insists the administration is prioritizing where the money matters most.
00:00The opposition claims the government has cut funding to critical sectors and previous programs within the Public Utilities Ministry, raising concerns that some services could be disrupted.
00:11Public Utilities Minister Barry Padaroff, however, defended the administration's approach, particularly the funding allocation for the $250 million LED street lighting project, after questions were raised about why only $10 million was listed under his ministry.
00:30Obviously, it will be done in a phased basis. So I wouldn't say at all that this is an under-representation in terms of the budgeting process. It is a phased process. So we are kick-starting this. And as we go along, the Minister of Finance has indicated he will lend his support. The target, I think, is what the Honourable Minister of Finance is projecting in his statement. The target.
00:52Tension rose over the absence of 2026 budget allocations for T.T. Post's legacy building restoration projects, including one in Sangre Grandi, despite contracts having been awarded under the previous PNM administration.
01:08So the project is suspended, construction work is suspended, the contract is suspended. What's going on there? A contract was awarded.
01:16We are looking to align the needs of T.T. Post right now.
01:20I've got that part.
01:21So you have gotten that part of it. The other part is that we are in discussions with the Ministry of Finance at this point, in terms of a review, in terms of the execution of the project.
01:31That's a question I didn't ask. I didn't ask going forward. I ask you if you've stopped it or suspended the construction work on that project.
01:39There is no construction work on that project.
01:42I see. So you've stopped it.
01:43There is no construction work that commenced.
01:46So you didn't start. So if you didn't start, you can't stop it.
01:49Minister Padarov maintains government's priority is to align funding with T.T. Post's most critical operational needs.
01:57There are several challenges at the headquarters of T.T. Post in Piyako, which pose significant threat to the welfare and safety of the employees there.
02:09So that is where our focus is on that right now in terms of allocations.
02:14However, these legacy projects, we are in discussions with Ministry of Finance in terms of not abandoning these projects, just simply looking at doing them at a later time.
02:29The minister also confirmed that the proposed new building for the meteorological services will not go ahead as envisioned by the previous administration.
02:38When I spoke passionately about the challenges faced by MET employees, it did not necessarily mean that we were going to construct a new facility in this financial year.
02:53It means providing adequate accommodation for them, and it is something that the PS and I are actively discussing and looking at.
03:03We have already been able to address some, not all, some of the challenges.
03:07A lot more needs to be addressed.
03:09But yes, you see, quite rightly, there is no allocation there.
03:13So we have no intention of mamagayan MET employees to tell them that construction is going to start at a time when there are challenges that we have inherited.
03:23Meanwhile, PNM MPs are now accusing the government of geographical discrimination,
03:28alleging that water supply and other utilities are being unfairly distributed across regions.
03:34The residents of La Saiva in Maraval, in my constituency, haven't had water for a month under this UNC administration.
03:42But that is not the only area that this UNC administration is starving of water.
03:47All over my constituency, as is commonplace, in Paramin, in Maraval, in St. James, in Dundonall Hill, in La Saiva, everywhere,
03:59we have issues with water where people don't get water for weeks, sometimes months.
04:03A total of $3,270,000,000 was approved for the Public Utilities Ministry.
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