Dookeran wants more $$ for outstanding commitments

The government of Trinidad & Tobago is going to Parliament Friday to ask for more money to run its affairs. It wants $2.7 billion more.

This is in addition to the $54.6 billion budget Parliament approved last October for the 2011/12 fiscal year.

Finance Minister Winston Dookeran will present a motion to vary and supplement the budget to meet outstanding commitments.

The Finance Committee of the House of Representatives considered the motion at a private meeting on Wednesday.

Based on budget expectations the government hopes to collect $47 billion and spend $54.6 billion, leaving a deficit of $7.6 billion.

• Dookeran will outline the main areas where funds are needed. These include: Finance ($1,102,070,300)
• Works and Transport ($714,605,126)
• Works and Infrastructure ($534,496,669)
• Foreign Affairs and Communications ($277,583,761)
• Transport ($250,898,205)
• Sport ($125,986,167)
• Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs ($99,707,808)
• Planning and the Economy ($62,815,171)
• Gender, Youth and Child Development ($50,537,200)
• Housing and the Environment ($5,667,941)
• National Security ($3,395,400)
• Trade and Industry ($863,600) 

Also on Friday, the government is scheduled to lay the Children’s Bill 2011 in the House of Representatives for debate at a later date. 

There are five major bills on this year’s parliamentary agenda:

• The Procurement of Goods and Services and Disposal of Property Bill
• The Beverage Containers Bill/Waste management legislation
• The Planning and Development of Land Bill
• The Securities Bill
• The Private Security Industries Bill