Trinidad and Tobago: Morris Critiques Tobago’s Budget Allocation

This report covers trinidad tobago: morris critiques with key details and context.

THA Minority Leader Kelvon Morris has expressed criticism regarding the 2025/2026 budget for Tobago, labeling it as “seasoned with deceit, deception and in some respect, dishonesty.” During a media conference held on October 15, Morris articulated his concerns about a reduction in the island’s development allocation, even though Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo announced a total allocation of $3.72 billion for Tobago. Tancoo stated that this amount represents 6.3 percent of the national budget.

The total allocation marks an increase from the previous year’s figure of $2.599 billion, which accounted for 4.35 percent of the national budget. However, Morris emphasized that while the overall allocation appears to have risen, the development budget has actually seen a decline. He pointed out that Tobago had requested a total of $3.71 billion, which included $2.71 billion earmarked for recurrent expenditure and $1 billion designated for development initiatives.

trinidad tobago: morris critiques: key developments so far.

According to the budget details, only $201.5 million has been allocated for development, which represents a significant decrease compared to previous years. Morris highlighted that the recurrent expenditure had increased by $400 million, while the development allocation has dropped from $300 million in 2022 to $205 million in 2024, and now to $201.5 million.

Morris underscored the critical role of development expenditure in fostering economic growth for Tobago. He criticized the current administration for failing to adequately address this issue, stating that the development aspect of Tobago’s budget requires urgent attention, as it has consistently lagged behind the rest of the country for several years.

Furthermore, Morris called for greater transparency in the budget breakdown, particularly concerning allocations for programs such as the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) and the Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP), which were notably absent from the budget presentation. He expressed the need for clarity on how funds are being allocated and utilized, emphasizing that the residents of Tobago deserve to know how their resources are being managed.

In summary, while the overall budget for Tobago has seen an increase, the significant reduction in the development allocation has raised alarms among local leaders, particularly Morris. The emphasis on recurrent expenditure over development funding has led to concerns about the long-term economic prospects for Tobago, prompting calls for a reevaluation of budget priorities to better support the island’s growth and development needs.

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