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  • 6 hours ago
Chief Secretary Farley Augustine has raised serious concerns about what he describes as excessive spending within the Tobago House of Assembly, after one division reportedly accumulated nearly ten million dollars in electricity costs.

Mr. Augustine is now calling for greater fiscal discipline and improved management of public resources across the Assembly.

Elizabeth Williams reports.
Transcript
00:00That we cannot continue as a THA, where one building is costing us on average $10 million in electricity bill.
00:12Clearly, that's a misuse of state funds.
00:15Augustin says his administration is now prioritizing energy conservation measures
00:20as part of a wider effort to reduce operational costs and improve efficiency throughout the THA.
00:27We have to become much more efficient in how we consume energy as a THA and put those savings to people.
00:40Paying Tiantic is not the same as doing service for people.
00:44And so even as we build new buildings, they must be energy smart.
00:48The chief secretary says policies aimed at promoting smarter energy use are currently under review
00:55as the assembly looks at ways to lower electricity consumption and adopt more sustainable energy practices.
01:04As we lead this island into new tourism source, we have to lead as a THA.
01:11The cars we drive must become more energy efficient.
01:16How we utilize electricity, much more energy efficient.
01:19And then in turn, we must develop policies and incentives and strategies to get the rest of the island on board.
01:28This is a critical division.
01:30Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
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