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In the past week, more and more disturbing and unfortunate events kept dominating the atmosphere in our country. From the -shutting down of our major port operations to facilitate a US warship (in the midst of an impending war with Venezuela) to the shutting down of Nutrien operations in Trinidad, one of our country’s largest forex earners and employers, the country is in no shortage of anxiety and turmoil. The darkness continues to hover over our heads knowing that 300 of the brightest minds of our country face uncertainty for their safety and well-being in Jamaica with the passing of the devastating Hurricane Melissa and the lack of effort by the Trinidad and Tobago Government to secure them. To me, what’s most worrying is the fact that the Government, especially the Prime Minister, blatantly refuses to face the population and send a clear and concise explanation about all that has been happening and what contingency plans are in place for us the citizens. Media houses and journalists, both locally and internationally, are reporting a totally contrasting situation to what the Trinidad and -Tobago Government is saying. Prior to all the international attention, the Government and its supporters branded our local media houses as “PNM media” when questions were asked about the unrest in the region. Now that international media has arrived, most recently Al Jazeera reporting from Icacos, Trinidad, and others, would they too be branded “PNM media”? In my last article, I opined that we the citizens have been receiving more guidance from international sources than our own Government. The Standing Finance Committee on the 2026 budget was just as disturbing as the other events over the last week. We have clear indication the budget presented makes absolutely no economic sense. Can you digest a Government minister being asked a simple question as to how an allocated sum will facilitate projected development and his response is that he “would work a magic”. Most questions asked of the Government were met with blame, deflection or simply a refusal to answer. I challenge the media to engage the economic experts, the political scientists and the right-thinking, intelligent citizens for their honest, non-biased opinions. With the responses we received from the current ministers, we are in for troubling times. The die-hard supporters will support the budget blindly, but intelligent individuals would conclude the maths not mathsing. Nigel Seenathsingh San Fernando
