Opposition MP Terrence Deyalsingh yesterday claimed that “the combined losses” for companies at Point Lisas were an estimated $10 billion.
Deyalsingh told legislators during yesterday’s House of Representatives debate on a motion to approve the Second Report of the Standing Committee that his claim could not be refuted.
The motion seeks to vary the 2015 budget to allow for payment of increased wages and salaries to public servants, among other matters.
The motion was presented for debate by Finance and the Economy Minister Larry Howai.
Deyalsingh said the National Gas Company had lost $1.4 billion in revenue.
He said the Government had lost $1.3 billion in corporation tax “and the Green Fund has lost $8.8 billion, due to the mismanagement of our energy affairs.”
Deyalsingh said the energy sub-committee of Cabinet met only twice in 2012. That sub-committee advises the Cabinet on energy matters.
Deyalsingh sought to make fun of Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine when he told Parliament that helicopter flights had increased under the PP Government.
He said Ramnarine was seeking to tell the population the Government should not be judged on the economic losses, nor on the latest Moody’s Report which downgraded this country, but on the increase in helicopter flights.
Deyalsingh said the Opposition, which returned to the House yesterday for this particular debate, would not be supporting the measure. The Opposition has been staying away from the House in protest since early May over the suspension of its leader, Diego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley.
Works and Infrastructure Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan, in his contribution to the debate, denied that the Government had spent $400 billion over the past five years. The claim was repeatedly made by Opposition MPs. Yesterday, he said it was just over $200 billion.
Rambachan insisted there was no overspending by the Government as claimed by the PNM.
He also said the Government spent the money on several projects, including roads and drains.
No discrimination—PM
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar also said her People’s Partnership Government had not discriminated against opposition constituencies.
She said she had recently opened three schools in opposition constituencies. She said the laptop computers were distributed to students who attended schools not in PP-controlled constituencies as well.
She accused the Opposition of being against the workers of the country because of its decision not to support the motion.
Persad-Bissessar said the majority of the money being varied was to pay increased salaries for public servants and other increased wage bills.