People’s National Movement (PNM) Senator Foster Cummings has accused the United National Congress (UNC) Government of using the 2027 National Budget to discriminate against communities controlled by the opposition, claiming that the distribution of municipal development funding represents deliberate political punishment.
In a video published on Facebook, Cummings described the budget as oppressive and accused the administration of engaging in geographical discrimination against communities it believes supported the PNM in previous elections.
“The government is determined to discriminate and to punish people who they consider voted for the PNM,” Cummings declared.
He pointed to what he described as a significant disparity in development allocations between the seven PNM-controlled municipal corporations and the seven controlled by the UNC.
According to the 2027 Draft Estimates of Development Programme, UNC-controlled corporations have been allocated approximately TT$187.4 million, compared with TT$31.62 million for PNM-controlled corporations.
The difference amounts to approximately TT$155.78 million, with UNC-controlled corporations receiving about 85.6 per cent of the TT$219.02 million municipal development allocation.
Cummings argued that this distribution was particularly troubling because the populations served by the two groups of corporations were relatively similar.
He claimed UNC-controlled corporations represent approximately 652,000 residents, while PNM-controlled corporations serve approximately 615,000.
“If that is not blatant discrimination, citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, then I don’t know what is,” he said.
Among the allocations highlighted were Port of Spain at TT$2.6 million, San Fernando at TT$3.8 million, Diego Martin at approximately TT$2.22 million and Tunapuna/Piarco at TT$9 million.
Arima’s published allocation stands at TT$2.5 million, while Point Fortin receives TT$2 million and San Juan/Laventille receives TT$9.5 million.
By comparison, Chaguanas has been allocated TT$37.9 million, Penal/Debe TT$38.2 million and Princes Town TT$37.45 million.
Other UNC-controlled corporations include Siparia with TT$26 million, Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo with TT$19 million, Mayaro/Rio Claro with TT$18.85 million and Sangre Grande with TT$10 million.
Cummings noted that Chaguanas alone was receiving more development funding than all seven PNM-controlled corporations combined.
He further accused the Government of deliberately targeting residents based on perceived political loyalty.
“That is to say that the UNC government intends to punish people who live in PNM areas, mainly because and simply because of where they live or how they perceive these people voted,” he said.
The senator maintained that the previous PNM administration distributed development funding more evenly between corporations controlled by the two political parties.
Budget figures show that the original 2025 development estimates allocated approximately TT$128.45 million to PNM-controlled corporations and TT$121.25 million to UNC-controlled corporations.
The distribution subsequently shifted in fiscal 2026, with UNC-controlled corporations receiving approximately TT$190.46 million and PNM-controlled corporations TT$81.17 million.
For fiscal 2027, the allocation to PNM-controlled corporations has fallen further to TT$31.62 million.
The figures establish a substantial change in the distribution of municipal development allocations. However, they do not independently establish that the Government’s decisions were motivated by political discrimination.
Development allocations may also reflect project costs, infrastructure requirements, approved programmes and other budgetary considerations.
Additionally, these figures cover a specific development programme and do not represent all government expenditure within the affected municipalities.
Cummings nevertheless described the situation as part of a wider pattern of political victimisation.
He warned citizens about what he called a “galloping dictatorship” and accused Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her administration of attempting to punish communities perceived as opposition supporters.
The Government has presented its 2027 Budget under the theme of investing in communities, transforming the economy and securing a sustainable future.
However, the contrasting development allocations have intensified questions about how funding is distributed among municipalities and whether the criteria adequately reflect the needs of residents.
Cummings insisted that political affiliation should never determine the treatment citizens receive from their government.
“When a government is put in office, they must govern for all the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago in a fair and transparent manner,” he said.
Anchor Script
PNM Senator Foster Cummings has accused the UNC Government of using the 2027 National Budget to punish communities perceived as opposition supporters.
In a Facebook video, Cummings described the budget as oppressive and accused the administration of geographical discrimination.
He pointed to development allocations showing that seven UNC-controlled municipal corporations will receive approximately 187 million dollars, compared with just 31.6 million dollars for seven PNM-controlled corporations.
According to the published budget estimates, Chaguanas alone receives 37.9 million dollars, more than all seven PNM corporations combined.
Port of Spain receives 2.6 million dollars, San Fernando 3.8 million and Diego Martin approximately 2.2 million.
Cummings argued that the distribution was unfair, particularly because the populations represented by the two groups of corporations are relatively similar.
He also claimed that the previous PNM administration distributed funding more evenly.
While budget documents confirm the disparity, they do not establish that the Government deliberately targeted communities for political reasons.
Cummings nevertheless accused the administration of punishing citizens based on perceived political loyalties.
He insisted that any elected government must govern fairly and transparently for every citizen, regardless of where they live or how they voted.
Article and image source: facebook.com