Opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi says the Prime Minister’s statement on the economy last night “just made no sense.”
He said during her address she looked “jolted as she read from a prepared text that seemed unfamiliar to her.”
He said the content of her presentation was “unbelievable as it was illogical in its make-up.”
Al-Rawi said Persad-Bissessar’s “delivery was absent of detail as to specific expenditure cuts and even the calculations of the deficit.”
He said the Opposition PNM would make more detailed responses in Parliament today.
Political analyst Dr Winsford James says the significant reduction in the price of oil could affect the results of the 2015 general election.
James spoke in a brief telephone interview last night after the PM’s statement. He said he was not clear on all the Prime Minister said so he would be unable to make a detailed comment.
However, he said the former PNM government, led by Patrick Manning, lost the 2010 general election partly because of a similar reduction in the price of oil in 2009.
And economist Indira Sagewan-Ali, in her comments on the PM’s statement, told CNC3 she had concerns about the Government’s ability to create jobs.
“Where is that employment going to come from,” Sagewan asked.
She said if the State’s recurrent revenues continued to decline “then its capacity to sustain that employment also would fall. Which sectors of the economy were going to pick up the slack?” she asked.
She said that was one matter which must be put on the front burner.
Central Bank Governor Jwala Rambarran was among those in the audience at the Diplomatic Centre for the statement.
As Persad-Bissessar took to the podium she was unable to deliver her statement for a few moments as she forgot her reading glasses.
“I need my eyes, please. I have everything except my eyes (glasses). I need enhanced vision,” she said.