00:00Well, the date for the 2027 national budget is expected to be announced next week.
00:06Prime Minister Kamala Pesan-Besasa gave that assurance when we asked her
00:10when the country can expect the government's fiscal plan to be laid in Parliament.
00:15She told us, quote, we'll announce date next week, end quote.
00:19The announcement comes as government prepares its second national budget since taking office in May 2025,
00:25its first budget for the fiscal 2025-2026 was presented by Finance Minister Divinjanath Tanku in October 13 last year.
00:36That $59.2 billion budget projected a fiscal deficit of $3.865 billion
00:44and was subsequently passed by the lower house after five days of scrutiny.
00:49The new budget is expected to set out the government's priorities for the next financial year,
00:54including its plans for revenue, expenditure and economic development.
01:01Tobago's tourism sector is high on the agenda of Chief Secretary Farley-Augustin
01:06when the national budget is read next month.
01:09The Chief Secretary is also hopeful for Tobago receiving what he calls its fair share.
01:15Here's more from Elizabeth Williams.
01:17Tourism is definitely a priority for us, especially with this new thrust towards extensive marketing
01:26in the North American market so that we can increase the numbers of direct arrivals,
01:34foreign direct arrivals to Tobago and to Trinidad by extension.
01:38Do you think a billion dollars is needed?
01:41I know the hotel and tourism...
01:43On the capital development side, yes.
01:45The THA requested $4.12 billion from Finance Minister Divinjanath Tanku
01:51as the THA presented its estimates for fiscal October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027, back in June.
02:00The estimates of recurrent expenditure amount to $3.03 billion and development program expenditure estimates total $1.09 billion.
02:12CPEP estimates amount to $43.35 million.
02:16My budget wish is for a fair share in the budget, as always, a fair share for Tobago and Tobago's
02:26development agenda.
02:27I think, as a country, we need to see some significant economic movement on the ground, generally.
02:40And I think, coming out of this budget, I'm hoping it will spawn things like a construction pool.
02:46It will allow for a flurry of economic activity.
02:51I also want to see measures that will attract foreign direct investments.
02:58Mr. Augustin wants Tobago's productivity levels raised to a higher standard with a vision beyond Trinidad.
03:07We need to look external to Trinidad and Tobago for our economic future, I think.
03:13And I also want to see us be prepared as a country to raise the levels of productivity in sectors
03:21outside of the energy sector.
03:23And that includes agriculture, because food security must remain paramount for us.
03:29Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
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