The People’s National Movement continues to urge voters to be mindful of unrealistic campaign promises that could have far-reaching consequences.
The party was at Nyahbinghi Corner in St. Joseph on Tuesday night.
Prime Minister Stuart Young quoted independent voices who are concerned about impractical electoral promises, referencing independent sources such as business journalist Anthony Wilson’s article ‘Can T&T Afford Kamla’s Promises?’
“Listen to what he warns us about. The cost of funding seven of the main promises or commitments made by Kamla Persad-Bissessar could be more than $18 billion in additional expenditure.”
Minister of Health and candidate for Aranguez/St. Joseph, Terrence Deyalsingh, reminded citizens not to repeat history.
“In 1986, in the run-up to that election, a coalition called the NAR promised you the earth, the moon, and the stars. But when the NAR found out they could not fund their promises, they had to go to something called the International Monetary Fund, or the IMF. What was the result of that? Homes were lost, hopes and dreams were shattered.”
Referring to the revenue earned from the PNM’s unprecedented restructuring of Atlantic LNG, amongst other revenue-boosting successes in their nine-year tenure, Prime Minister Stuart Young recommended that citizens put faith in a government’s actual track record.
“So, that is $38 billion. That is what paid for GATE; that is what paid for PTSC; that is what pays for electricity to be subsidised. That is the reality. That is why I can stand here tonight and I can ask Trinidad and Tobago: measure the PNM government on its track record, how we have managed this country in difficult times.”
Prime Minister Young offered that just as short-term gains can lead to long-term losses when managing a family budget, the same applies for decisions impacting the citizenry and economy.