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  • 4 weeks ago
It was a noticeably subdued session of the Standing Finance Committee this morning as the Tobago House of Assembly's $2.943 billion allocation for the new fiscal year came under review.
Transcript
00:00The Standing Finance Committee met on Friday morning in what some describe as a low-energy sitting,
00:07a far cry from the heated exchanges that have characterized the budget sessions over the past week.
00:13The sum of $2.943 billion has been approved for the Tobago House of Assembly.
00:19Finance Minister Devindranath Tanku faced questions on a number of spending increases,
00:24including a $100,000 rise in the allocation for repairs and maintenance of buildings.
00:31This increase is required to effect the much-needed repairs of the electrical and HVAC systems
00:36at the Planning, Research and Development Institute building.
00:40There was also an increase in farmland development with an additional $5 million added to the allocation,
00:47bringing the total to $25 million for the 2026 fiscal year.
00:52The Land Management Department Office of the Chief Secretary has successfully advanced works
00:57on the Lammy Road Farmland Development Project, which is now at the completion stage.
01:01The project involves surveys, roads and bridge construction, drainage, drilling of a well,
01:06retention pond with adequate storage and provide suitable solar lighting for agricultural purposes.
01:12At this point, the focus is on finalizing all outstanding payments related to the project's completion
01:17to ensure full closure.
01:19The Boko Integrated Facility is to benefit from a $1.5 million upgrade.
01:25The increase in allocation is required to supplement the vote for the following activities.
01:31One, extension and repairs to the Boko boardwalk.
01:35Two, repairs to the fencing at the Boko Integrated Facility.
01:39And three, general upgrading and landscaping, including repairs to the sprinkler system.
01:44But perhaps the liveliest exchange came when one member accused the government of presiding
01:50over a motor vehicle insurance racket.
01:53Now, Mr. Minister, I'm no lawyer, but that sounds to me as if state vehicles are exempt from third-party insurance.
02:00Yet we've been hearing over and over and over for various ministries line items for exactly that, third-party insurance.
02:08Minister Tan Koo quickly fired back, dismissing the suggestion.
02:13I assume that you were able to understand standard and basic English.
02:16I indicated at the start.
02:18Now, I appreciate the need for the hurrah and the attempt to get the newspaper headlines or rackets, etc., etc.
02:25But this is not the PNM.
02:29So not everything is about a racket.
02:33I'm not finished.
02:34I appreciate an answer, Mr. Minister.
02:35I am not finished.
02:37This is not the PNM.
02:38I'm not finished.
02:39I indicated in my response, and maybe I should say it again just to be clear before we descend into more unnecessarily banter,
02:48that the Tobago House of Assembly provides fully comprehensive insurance for its vehicles.
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