Trinidad and Tobago House of Representatives to Review Mid-Year Budget Amid Highway Project Inquiry

The Trinidad and Tobago House of Representatives is scheduled to convene on June 7 for a Mid-Year Review of the 2023/2024 budget. This session follows a series of committee meetings, including a significant public inquiry into the Solomon Hochoy Highway extension project on June 6.

On June 3, the House's Standing Finance Committee will meet at the Red House in Port of Spain to deliberate on an increase of $2,328,099,600 to the budget. The committee will review several major supplementations, including $570,900,000 for the Ministry of Energy, $155,677,500 for the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, $527,800,000 for the Ministry of Utilities, $495,286,000 for the Ministry of Health, $144,200,000 for the Ministry of Education, and a $50 million increase in funding for the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).

Finance Minister Colm Imbert recently highlighted the government's financial support to Tobago, stating that the largest amount released to the THA between 2016 and 2021 was $2,578,000 in 2023. Imbert also noted that the central government had spent a total of $2.9 billion in Tobago between 2019 and 2023, in addition to regular grants.

The public inquiry into the Solomon Hochoy Highway extension project will be held on June 6 at the Red House. This inquiry aims to provide answers about the project's management under the UNC-led People's Partnership coalition government from May 24, 2010, to September 7, 2015. Prime Minister Rowley has emphasized the need for transparency, stating, "The public, through its representatives in this House, must seek and obtain answers from all persons involved in or associated with this scandal."

Why this matters: The Mid-Year Review of the budget and the public inquiry into the Solomon Hochoy Highway extension project have significant implications for the country's fiscal policies and infrastructure development. The outcomes of these meetings will likely influence public trust in the government and shape the country's economic future.

Rowley posed several questions regarding the project, including: "By what process, advice and documentation was it determined that the billion-dollar contract must be amended to grant an $852 million waiver to (Construtora) OAS?" and "Who authorised the amendment of the contract?" The inquiry seeks to address these and other questions to ensure accountability.

Specifically, UNC members on the Joint Select Committee, including Princes Town MP Barry Padarath and Opposition Senator Anil Roberts, are boycotting meetings related to this matter, in line with a party decision made last November.

The upcoming sessions in the House of Representatives will be closely watched, as they address critical financial allocations and ongoing controversies surrounding major infrastructure projects. The outcomes of these meetings will likely have significant implications for the government's fiscal policies and public trust.

Key Takeaways

• Trinidad and Tobago's House of Representatives to convene on June 7 for Mid-Year Review of 2023/2024 budget.
• Standing Finance Committee to review $2.3 billion budget increase, including funds for energy, transportation, and health.
• Public inquiry into Solomon Hochoy Highway extension project to be held on June 6, seeking transparency and accountability.
• Finance Minister highlights government's financial support to Tobago, including $2.9 billion spent between 2019 and 2023.
• Outcomes of meetings to impact public trust in government and shape country's economic future.