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THE Opposition says it voted against the Appropriation (Financial Year 2026) Bill, 2025, because the budget “represents a betrayal of the people’s trust and a continuation of the UNC Government’s deliberate campaign of deception”. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had condemned the Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) for voting against the national budget, describing it as a shameful betrayal of the people. “Today, the UNC Government passed its first national budget, a progressive budget for rebuilding our nation, despite the disgraceful behaviour of the Opposition PNM,” said the Prime Minister in a statement to the media on Saturday. In a statement issued yesterday, the Opposition described the fiscal package as a “Tax-and-Suffer Budget” that “punishes the poor, squeezes the middle class, burdens small businesses and protects the wealthy and politically connected”. According to the Opposition, the budget “is not a ‘people’s budget’, as claimed by the Government”, and is instead “built on false promises, inflated revenues and deliberate under-budgeting”. The statement outlined several key reasons behind the decision to vote against the Bill: • Landlord tax The Opposition criticised the new Landlord Tax, saying it would “increase the cost of renting a home for ordinary citizens” while “protecting the wealthy and targeting the middle class and the poor”. It also claimed that revenue from the tax “will not be directed to local government authorities for community development, depriving regions of much-needed funding”. • Electricity rate increase The Opposition also accused the Government of backpedalling on its campaign promise of no rate hikes, saying the proposed electricity rate increase “will raise costs for manufacturers, restaurants, groceries and service providers, directly driving up food prices and the cost of living for every family”. • NIS contribution hike While acknowledging the need for reform, the Opposition said the 45% rise in National Insurance contributions over two years “will reduce disposable income and raise the cost of doing business”. The statement added that such a measure “must be done after proper consultation and with consideration of the financial hardship already faced by citizens”. • Tax on single-use plastics The party warned that introducing the tax without incentives for alternatives “will further increase the cost of goods and services across the economy, especially when combined with higher electricity rates”. • Broken housing promise The Opposition also pointed to what it called another “false promise,” saying that although the Government pledged to deliver 20,000 houses this fiscal year, “there is no provision in the budget to fund such a programme”. It added that the Housing Minister David Lee “admitted that only a few hundred units may actually be possible this year”. • Cuts to youth and education programmes The statement said the $45 million reduction in the On-The-Job Training (OJT) Programme allocation was “a direct blow to young people who depend on the OJT programme to gain valuable work experience”. It also condemned the removal of the School Supplies and Book Grant, saying that its absence “proves that the promises made in the budget statement are not backed by money or intent”. • National recruitment fair “hoodwink” The Opposition described the Government’s National Recruitment Drive as “nothing but a publicity stunt,” claiming that “thousands of existing jobs have been re-advertised, including positions that already have substantive or acting incumbents”. It further stated, “There is no funding in ministries to pay additional staff, and the Employment Fund does not have enough money to hire 20,000 people. Position exchange is not job creation. Job interviews are not employment”. • Fiscal manipulation alleged The Opposition accused the Government of “gross under-budgeting” and “over-inflated revenue projections,” asserting that the Standing Finance Committee exposed “deliberate manipulation of expenditure figures across Ministries and State Agencies”. It added, “Ministers repeatedly failed to justify their allocations, often admitting they would return at mid-year for more funding. This strategy is intended to conceal the true size of the fiscal deficit.” The Opposition further argued that oil and gas price assumptions—US$73.25 per barrel and US$4.25 per MMBtu, respectively—were “far above the forecasts of leading international agencies,” warning that “these unrealistic projections will result in a much larger fiscal hole once the real revenues fall short”. • “No money” for promised increases The Opposition also said there was “no provision for public officers’ 10% increase,” calling it “misleading” for the Government to suggest otherwise. It stated, “Even if negotiations conclude this year, public servants cannot expect any increase before the mid-year review in 2026.” The release went on to claim that “tens of thousands of CEPEP, URP and Forestry workers were dismissed within weeks of the UNC taking office and noted that the budget “contains no policy or funding for their reinstatement or relief”. • Lack of vision The Opposition also stated that the budget “contains no credible plan to diversify the economy or reduce dependence on the energy sector” and “fails to address the shortage of foreign exchange that continues to cripple citizens and businesses”. “Despite repeated promises before and after the April 28 general election, there is still no plan to stabilise the system or improve access,” it stated. The Opposition further stated that “this budget reveals the UNC Government’s vindictive approach to governance”. It claimed that “allocations to corporations represented by the PNM were slashed, while those led by UNC representatives received large increases”. As a result, it said, “PNM corporations now face severe shortfalls in funding to collect garbage, repair roads and drains, maintain community spaces, hire workers and deliver essential services”. The Opposition pledged to “remain steadfast in its commitment to defend the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago from the UNC Government’s reckless economic mismanagement and to expose every act of deception, manipulation and incompetence that undermines our nation’s stability and prosperity”. The 2025/2026 budget was passed in Parliament on Saturday, with 28 Government members voting in support, and 12 Opposition members voting against. The budget debate moves to the Senate today.
