Trinidad and Tobago's Finance Minister is concerned about the state of the economy and has suggested that he was expecting serious challenges when he accepted the finance portfolio.Winston Dookeran spoke with the media following a tree-planting to mark World Environment Day.
“We have some challenges ahead of us. It was a little deeper than I expected, but I expected to have deep challenges. Over the next week or so I will liaise more with the press on the nature and extent of those challenges,” he said.
However he said the People’s Partnership government would be able to keep its promises to the people.
The 120-day, 32-point plan includes a promise of laptop computers to students, old age pensions of $3,000 a month and a $100 million LIFE fund for children seeking who need medical attention abroad.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has admitted that it would be a challenge to deliver on all promises but is confident the the people have the will and capacity to overcome the challenges.
Dookeran shares that confidence. "Obviously there will be some challenges as to how to meet the financial tide of those promises in the short term, but over time I think we will be able to incorporate it, but there are deep challenges ahead,” he reiterated.
The finance minister said a major problem is finding jobs for citizens. He noted that the official figures don't appear to be accurate.
"The number of people who came to me do not fit into the national average. The national average says that we have only five to seven per cent unemployment, but most people who came to me are looking for jobs,” he said.
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