MP Diego Martin North/East since 1991, Resident of Maraval, Deputy Political Leader PNM, Citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, BSc & MSc Eng, MSc Finance, LLM, LLM
Trinidad and Tobago
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Yesterday, based on a submission from the Ministry of Finance, in keeping with the commitment given in our PNM 2020 General Election Manifesto, Cabinet agreed to remove all taxes on laptops computers, notebook computers and tablet computers. This measure takes effect immediately
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On Friday, we passed the Finance Bill, 2020 in the HOR. This Bill exempts laptops, notebooks, tablets, mobile and digital equipment, cell phones, software, accessories and peripherals from ALL taxes. It goes to the Senate on Tuesday. The exemptions take effect on Jan 1, 2021
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2 weeks ago, the UNC cancelled the traditional military parade that celebrates our Independence from Great Britain and replaced it with a National Day of Prayer. 2 days ago the UNC Cabinet had a good time at a CPL cricket match. Yesterday, the UNC boycotted its own day of prayer
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After 5 days: Tobago East, Toco/Sangre Grande, La Horquetta/Talparo, Tunapuna and San Fernando West have remained solidly PNM with negligible change in the margins of victory. St Joseph is still being recounted, with an INCREASE in the PNM margin so far. What a travesty
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With dangerous Hurricane Beryl heading for Barbados, St. Vincent, Grenada and Tobago, there is an amazing influx of boats (close to 100 so far, see below) coming down through the 1st Boca to Trinidad, to shelter from the storm. The Government is preparing to accomodate them
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The Opposition has requested recounts in the 6 marginal seats they lost. Our margin of victory in these seats varies from 800 to 3,000. Historically, a recount changes the vote count by about 5 votes. It is thus statistically impossible for the results in these seats to change
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We keep being told to go to the IMF for loan financing. What the "experts" don't disclose is that the IMF requires a commitment to structural adjustment before they give you one cent. This means retrenchment and removal of subsidies and social grants. This "advice" is dangerous.
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A budget based on oil prices that are 50% higher than actual forecasts is reckless. A barrage of new taxes, fees, fines, rates, higher NIS contributions, reduced pensions, 100% increases in alcohol taxes and customs charges could never be described as a "win". Only in a madhouse
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Today, I won a defamation suit against Jwala Rambarran, who falsely claimed that I used my ministerial position to block his efforts to get a job. The Judge found that Rambarran's conclusions "would not have been honestly reached by a reasonable person" and awarded me $100,000
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A newspaper today wrote emotively about a street vendor who said that she will lose $80,000 in sales over the next 3 weeks. That is equivalent to $1.4M in annual income, yet most such vendors declare no income and pay no tax. Is this fact not equally important to the media??
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The Government can't pay salaries and allowances on time and hasn't paid suppliers and contractors for months. Money is clearly the problem. Yet, in the midst of this chaos, the UNC has unveiled fantastic plans to transform T&T into Dubai, complete with massive skyscrapers?
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After a difficult 5-year term and a hard fought election campaign, I am deeply honoured to be reappointed as Minister of Finance in the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. It was also my privilege to be asked to author the PNM's General Election Manifesto for the 9th straight time
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Thanks to all of my faithful supporters in my constituency for giving me the honour of a 9th term as your MP today. And thanks to all citizens of T&T for your faith in the PNM
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The UNC claims they increased taxes on alcohol by 100% because they care about poor people, but alcohol in TT is now 3 times the price it is in Barbados. This huge increase will damage our tourism and hospitality sectors which provide jobs to the same poor people. What hypocrisy!
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We've been hosting a free Parang Festival in the hills of Paramin in my constituency for 14 years now, with the best bands in the country. This year was the biggest ever, with over 10,000 people from all over T&T of all ages, ethnicities, classes, and creeds, having a great time
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Apparently, the Government cancelled the Independence Parade because they think it's a "security risk" for high level officials to be gathered in one place. Imagine that, they feel threatened when surrounded by hundreds of armed soldiers and police, plus helicopters, drones etc
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And following Keshorn, Jereem "the Dream" Richards, hailing from Point Fortin, has, at age 31, smashed the national record for the 400m, winning a Silver Medal at the World Athletics Championships in 43.72 seconds. Again, this has been a 13-year journey for this great TT athlete
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Grants of US$300 (TT$2,000) for food supplies have been wired to the Campus Bursars at UWI Mona in Jamaica and Cavehill in Barbados. These grants will be distributed by UWI to the 184 TT students who are not on scholarship. Scholars have already received their regular allowances
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I strive to continuously improve my knowledge base, capability, and skills. So, in 2020, I started a master's degree in Finance at the SOAS University of London. Today, I received official word from UOL that I've been awarded a MSc Finance (Economic Policy) Degree with Merit
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Unprocessed food for human consumption, such as VEGETABLES, FRUIT and meat, has been ZERO RATED for Value Added Tax for YEARS. So what is this nonsense in the 2026 Budget Speech about exempting cucumber, pumpkin, lettuce, watermelon etc from VAT? These items were ALREADY exempt!
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T&T has just been ranked as the 15th strongest emerging economy in the world in the context of its ability to withstand Covid-19! The Economist has ranked 66 countries using 4 indicators of financial strength, including public debt. In terms of Reserve Cover, we are in the top 3!
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I have noted complaints that State Agencies like WASA, PTSC and NP have taken decisions to stop accepting old small denomination banknotes before the official cut-off date of Dec 31st. In consultation with the line Ministers, I have requested that these decisions be rescinded
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For 10 years the Opposition insisted that there was a forex cartel in TT. Now that the new UNC CBTT Governor has confirmed that there is no such cartel and that credit card usage has increased by 400% thus creating a demand and supply problem the UNC trolls are oddly silent. Why?
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Over the period 2015 to 2018, CEPEP contractors hired by the UNC Government remained in place under the PNM. There was no mass dismissal in 2015. This UNC Government is the most heartless, inhumane, discrimatory, dictatorial, tyrannical administration I have ever experienced
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The silence of trade union leaders regarding the arbitrary dismissals of senior managers, coupled with the political punishment of 300 CEPEP contractors, 11,000 CEPEP workers and their dependents, among many others, that is taking place in the state sector, is astonishing
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We are not in an IMF programme. We will not be floating the dollar at this time because we know how this will adversely affect the vulnerable and cause massive inflation. We have said this for the last 10 years. Yet the Guardian keeps wasting newsprint demanding devaluation. Why?
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Living in T&T nowadays is like Animal Farm. Up is down, left is right and bad is good. The media isn't helping with its support for nepotism, dishonesty, incompetence and stupidity. A new crisis or bizarre Government action emerges every day, yet the usual commentators are silent
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The Brian Lara Cricket Stadium is truly one of the best cricket grounds in the world. It rained cat and dogs today at 3 pm, flooding the ground, but by 5 pm, the ground had drained off completely and was ready for cricket! Listen to Tom Moody and Ian Bishop in the attached video
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T&T was the first country in the world in 1985 to declare a public holiday to observe the abolition of slavery on August 1, 1834. This reversed a decision taken by the Legislative Council in 1939 to replace Emancipation celebrations with Discovery Day. Happy Emancipation Day!
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Angostura has actually increased the price of rum by far more than the increase in tax because the UNC believes ordinary people won't check the math. An insider actually told me this. Imagine increasing rum by $37 when the tax is $24 because you think people won't check? Robbery!
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So, now, if I decide to jog around the Queen's Park Savannah for exercise, or go to beach, or go hiking, I must have ID on me? And if I don't, I commit a criminal offence? This UNC Government is one of the most draconian and oppressive administrations in the Western Hemisphere
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Hearty congratulations to Keshorn Walcott for winning the Men's Javelin Throw at the World Athletics Championships, with a fantastic throw of 88.16m, beating the best in the world. This betters his 2012 Olympic throw by 3.58m. His perseverance over the last 13 years is admirable
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I am receiving several reports of UNC activists in marginal seats, such as Toco/Sangre Grande and St Joseph (Mt D'Or) attempting to induce voters to either stay home or vote UNC, offering $1,000 in cash. They could try all the dirty tricks they want. They will get the same licks
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Bishnu Ragoonath, the head of the Council for Responsible Political Behaviour, who couldn't see the overt racism in those UNC ads and excused the Opposition leader for her "blank" man speech is upset that I'm back as MOF. It's time he stopped pretending to be neutral and unbiased
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It's easy for rich people with endless US dollars in offshore bank accounts to push for a devaluation. They have no regard for poor people like the 10,000 unemployed CEPEP workers who will be the only ones to suffer if the dollar goes to 10 to 1. Even bread will be unaffordable
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Today, the Guardian recommended that we "float" the TTD, i.e. DEVALUE the TTD, as a solution to the demand for USD. However, this helps no one except those hoarding USD to make a quick profit. It will not generate any extra USD for businesses and will just cause hardship and pain
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So, the UNC floated an idea with a proxy to see how the population would react to a devaluation. The backlash to this oppressive and foolish idea was so powerful that the Government has been forced to say that they intend to continue to pursue my 10-year policy of no devaluation
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After creating a firestorm with the arbitrary cancellation of the Independence Parade, the UNC Government has SHAMELESSLY declared that it is continuing its Monday night public meetings at which the entire Cabinet will be gathered in one place. True to form, the media is silent
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I was happy yesterday to finally be able, after 8 years of economic strain, to present a Budget with no new taxes or increases and instead to be able to help people at the lowest end of the income scale with a $3 increase in the minimum wage, $1,000 book grant and $1B in backpay
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The Government has changed our Constitution to allow persons born overseas without any generational birth links to TT to automatically get TT citizenship. They lied and said that this would allow more persons to qualify for our national football team, but FIFA rules prohibit this
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Trinbago Knight Riders have won the 2020 Caribbean Cricket League. A fantastic performance. 12 straight wins. No losses. A perfect record. All hail Pollard and Bravo
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Taxes are earmarked to be removed on the other devices mentioned on page 35 of our Manifesto, such as mobile and digital equipment, cell phones, software and accessories in the Finance Act of 2020, after the completion of the Budget Debate, in or around December 2020
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When the UNC is in power, the media publishes any unsubstantiated nonsense they say. Case in point is Kamla's false allegation that CAL "lied" about its profitability under PNM. However, CAL always referred to its OPERATING PROFIT, which they should know excludes debt service
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On Friday, December 23, 2022, we deposited US$182 million (TT$1.23 billion) into our Heritage and Stabilisation Fund (HSF), preserving wealth for future generations in Trinidad and Tobago. This makes a total of US$345 million (TT$2.35 billion) deposited into the HSF in 2022
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T&T's Foreign Reserves have just been boosted by the equivalent of US$644 Million, as a result of a global distribution by the IMF of Special Drawing Rights designed to help countries cope with the Forex demands of Covid-19. Our Net Foreign Reserves are now back over US$7 Billion
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If a budget is not passed by Oct 31, the Government cannot pay its bills. The Exchequer and Audit and the Expenditure in Advance of Appropriation Acts make this very clear. Ignorance of these laws is not a satisfactory excuse for misleading the public. Do better research, Newsday
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So many fake accounts on Twitter and FB, created by the UNC one month ago, with no followers, all attacking my posts with the same language. Stop wasting your time. I will continue to expose attempted electoral fraud by the UNC, no matter how many of you jump out of nowhere
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Heritage Petroleum Limited today paid the Treasury TT$131 million in Oil Royalties!! This was for the 3-month period Jan-Mar 2019. It's the first time our national oil company has paid its taxes in the last 3 YEARS! Congrats to all involved!!
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Since the new Government has decided not to celebrate our country's Independence from the shackles of colonialism in 1962 and to cancel the traditional parade, and since they don't seem to like the colour red, I decided to decorate my constituency office in our national colours
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I have spent 30 years in Parliament and have never witnessed such a deliberate and malicious dismantling of our Standing Orders and unjustifiable attack on a Speaker. What is worse is the superficial media coverage that serves no other purpose than to mislead a trusting public.
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I got vaccinated today at the Queens Park Savannah. The procedure was smooth and simple and the staff from the Ministry of Health were so professional and pleasant. I recommend this to everyone. I trust the process.
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The 6% increase in National Insurance rates is actually a 45% increase in the amount that employees and employers will now have to pay in NIS. The average employee's NIS payment will now increase from $345 per month to $500 per month, thus wiping out any benefits in the Budget
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I got an award for defamation of $525K today against Phillip Alexander. He had falsely alleged that I purchased an exotic Swedish sports car for US$2M using forex that I obtained by corrupt means or by abusing my office as the MOF. The judgement is here acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aai…
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The Guardian story that claims that I said that the Government is drawing US$1.1B from the HSF is totally wrong. I said no such thing. In fact, I identified 4 sources of funds to deal with the budget deficit caused by Covid-19. Why do these headline writers make these errors?
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Born 114 years ago, Eric Williams was a brilliant academic, earning his PhD at Oxford in 1938. In 1994 he wrote his seminal book, Capitalism and Slavery, in which he argued that the slave trade was abolished for economic reasons. Many have tried to match his brilliance and failed
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Fact Check: T&T currently has the BEST credit rating of ALL 14 Caricom countries AND the Dominican Republic and our rating is better than MANY Latin American countries, including Argentina, Brazil & Costa Rica. This is due to the hard work of the staff at the Ministry of Finance
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This is a Government of deception. The cost of implementing that 10% wage increase across the public sector is not included in the 2026 Estimates of Expenditure. If it was and the true revenue figures were stated, the 2026 budget deficit would actually be closer to $20 billion
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The Express has published a front-page story demanding that the TT dollar be devalued. The story avoids the reality that if the dollar is devalued, prices will skyrocket, the standard of living will decline, and the general population will suffer. Is this a UNC plan in disguise?
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The PNM has a record of returning to Government immediately after an election defeat, so there is a lot at stake. It is not playtime or a children's tea party. Penny Beckles must have people around her that she can depend on. I therefore wholeheartedly support her One PNM Team
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Words cannot express the sorrow I feel with the tragic death of MP Lisa Morris Julian. Lisa was one of the most humble, sincere, dedicated, passionate, hard-working, committed, caring, respectful people I have ever met. I will sorely miss her sweet smile and radiant personality
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Hearty congratulations are in order for our national football team, especially the goal scorers Reon Moore and Alvin Jones, who, coming from behind, just beat the USA in a Concacaf Nations League football match at the National Stadium in Port of Spain. Well done, Soca Warriors!
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The T&T Revenue Authority Bill has FINALLY been passed, 11 years after it was introduced. We now join over 60 countries that have modern tax administration, to ensure fairness and equity in tax collection. The legislation also allows us to recruit and compensate staff properly
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The beautiful and breathtaking La Vigie lookout in Paramin is now one of the most visited locations in Trinidad. My team of constituency activists and I pursued the completion of this project for over 15 years. It was worth it. We chose the name from the local patois in Paramin
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Increases in the price of gas are never easy to absorb, but it is important to note that the price of gas in T&T is the second lowest out of 13 Caribbean countries in 2022. See attached chart. And diesel in the USA is currently TT$9.13 per litre, more than twice the price in T&T
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Uninformed neophytes always make asses of themselves. In 2024, I asked the CBTT to calculate the effect of devaluation of the TTD on revenue. The Bank confirmed that when you take into account foreign debt service and other USD payments, the increase in revenue is less than 1%!
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Why has the Government canceled our Independence Parade and Fireworks, in which for 60+ years we celebrated our escape from colonialism? I would hate to think that this is discrimination against the residents of Port of Spain and environs. Has the Government run out of money?
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Today S&P, the international rating agency, confirmed Trinidad and Tobago’s credit rating at BBB-, an Investment Grade rating reflective of T&T's credit strength. S&P also improved its outlook for T&T from negative to stable, the first positive rating move for T&T in 15 years.
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I am so proud of T&T's bobsled team who are competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. I thoroughly enjoyed the 1993 film, Cool Runnings, featuring the Jamaica team as the first Caribbean entry in this sport. I wish our team all success as they fly the Red, White and Black
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Every 6 months the same people declare that the TT dollar at TT$6.8 to US$1 is overvalued and insist that we devalue our dollar immediately. We have IGNORED them for 7 years and will CONTINUE to do so. Yet the same people support the BBD dollar at 2 to 1 and EC dollar at 2.7 to 1
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The Privy Council just published its decision in the constitutional challenge to the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority. WE WON THE CASE! This required tremendous effort against the relentless opposition from the UNC and the PSA. Now we can modernise revenue collection in TT!
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Recent claims by the UNC Opposition about the safety and efficacy of the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine are ASININE. The Astrazenica and Pfizer vaccines have the same exact WHO approval status as Sinopharm. All these vaccines are approved by WHO for emergency use in the Pandemic
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From July 5 to Sept 17, 2021, it is proposed that there be a tax amnesty in T&T, so that taxpayers can file outstanding tax returns and pay any taxes due and owing up to May 31, 2021, WITHOUT having to pay any penalties or interest. This applies to all types of outstanding taxes
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In 1962, we were an undeveloped colonial backwater. Today, we are a proud, strong and resilient, independent sovereign nation, world-class in many things, such as culture, industrialization, social services, human development, education, and much more. Happy Independence 2021
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The UNC's Review of the Economy 2025 clearly states that after 3 successive years of economic growth under the PNM: 2022 (+0.9%), 2023 (+1.5%) and 2024 (+2.5%), the economy DECLINED in 2025 under the UNC (-0.8%). Yet those "economists" at UWI, so outspoken under PNM, are silent
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The media has seen the cost breakdown below which proves UNC MP Padarath was lying when he falsely claimed that I spent $1.3 million to renovate the Minister's office at the MPU, when it was actually only $160,000. Despite this, the media is repeating his lies on a daily basis
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The turnout in yesterday's General Election in Jamaica was 38%. The turnout in the 2020 General Election in T&T was 58%, or 20% more. Both under Covid. Yet there are misguided commentators in T&T who pontificate and spout all sorts of empty theories about our electoral system
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Every election, each Returning Officer certifies on election night, the initial tally of the votes cast and gives a tally sheet to EACH political party. Our lowest margin, in St. Joseph, is over 800 votes and the Opposition knows that. No recount could change that fact
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The UNC is spreading an outrageous lie that TT is the 7th worst performing economy in the world and claiming that this lie is in IMF publications. In truth, the IMF has confirmed that our economy has experienced 3 consecutive years of economic growth, one of the best in the world
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Today is the 41st anniversary of the passing of Dr Eric Williams. His landmark study "Capitalism and Slavery", which revealed the true economic reasons for the abolition of slavery, is, after 78 years, only now being properly recognised by those who benefitted from that horror
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The Income Grant for self employed persons is from the MSD. The Salary Grant from the MOF is for persons in the NIS. The Express knows this and wrote an Editorial taking no responsibility for confusing the 2 grants. Yet it publishes an article today mixing everything up. Why??
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On Sept 9, the Guardian ran a story about persons experiencing difficulty in obtaining Salary Relief Grants. Upon enquiry, it was found that one had received a Grant, a second had not applied and a third had already received assistance from the Ministry of Social Development
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We built a salary relief grant evaluation unit from scratch and paid the first batch of grants within 15 days. We announced $$ for UWI students in Jamaica and Barbados on Monday and sent the money to UWI on Tuesday. But the Express finds that we are too slow. Are they serious?
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In the 2020 GE, I received 10,097 votes. Phillip Alexander of the PEP got 465 votes. The PEP has come again for more licks, but in desperation, they are now committing vandalism. The video below shows a PEP activist ripping down one of my banners in broad daylight in Bagatelle
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After years of hard work, based on a review of T&T's status up to April 11, 2025, T&T was just determined by the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Tax Information to be LARGELY COMPLIANT with the OECD standard!! We are on our way to removal from the GF/EU blacklists!
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Another "win" for the general population occurred today. The UNC Government summarily fired all 144 Reforestation Contractors today, putting 4,320 poor people out of work. This Government is CRUEL and HEARTLESS
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Yesterday, I said that because of the country's difficult financial situation, we can't afford SIGNIFICANT wage increases at this time. The Express chose to distort my statement and convert "no significant increase" into a "wage freeze". Why can't that paper get anything right?
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Something sinister is happening with the price of FCGFH shares on the Stock Exchange since Apr 28. FCB's earnings have continually improved over the years and there is no way its share price can drop 26% from $42 on Apr 28 to $31 on Nov 10 unless someone is manipulating the price
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I've never eaten Swedish Meatballs, or Smörgåsbord, or Swedish Candy, or Swedish Cheese or Cloudberry Jam. I've never been to Sweden, nor did I ever go to an ABBA concert. I have no IKEA furniture and I've never met a Viking. So why on earth would I buy a Swedish car???
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I have just requested the Board of Inland Revenue to issue INDIVIDUAL TAX REFUNDS for ALL taxpayers owed up to $25,000 in refunds. This will cost $246 million and will assist over EIGHTY SEVEN THOUSAND (87,000) persons who have been waiting patiently on their tax refunds
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Breaking news! The World Bank has just OFFICIALLY revised its projections of growth in the Trinidad and Tobago economy UPWARDS from -1% in 2018 and -0.5% in 2019, to +0.7% in 2018 and +0.9% in 2019. Positive proof that the T&T economy HAS TURNED AROUND
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Excuse me. But I can't help but laugh. The UNC has proposed the construction of a DOME over T&T to save us from Covid-19. Check the humorous comments at #kamladome2020. It reminds me of the Simpsons movie piped.video/kPiQiToZn6s and Stephen King's book stephenking.com/library/nove…
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Yesterday, the Parliament passed the Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Bill. A Landmark Achievement. T&T is the only country in the world with unregulated casino gambling. We will now bring our Gambling industry into the 21st Century to protect the public and workers in the industry
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A former PNM MP appeared on a UNC platform 2 nights ago and said that he tried to assist me to get funding from the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), but I declined his help. He must be delusional. Under my stewardship, TT accessed over US$1 BILLION in funding from CAF
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Congratulations to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, the Defence Force, the Fire Service and all other Security Services who made this year's Canival Celebrations one of the safest ever!
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Confidentiality is essential in banking to protect sensitive financial data from unauthorized access or misuse, to safeguard clients' privacy and safety and prevent identity theft, fraud and kidnapping for ransom. Why is the UNC seeking to destroy banking confidentiality in TT?
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The Guardian is recommending a devaluation of the TT dollar and suggesting an increase in interest rates, which could only lead to hyperinflation and recession. If I were to follow that irrational advice, that newspaper would be the first to condemn me for crashing the economy
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