Joel Jack on the Attack, Seeking Budget Back Pay from Central Government

Joel Jack, Secretary of Finance THA

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) may trigger provisions of the Dispute Resolution Commission (DRC) in the THA Act to seek arrears of funding of hundreds of millions of dollars in budgetary allocations dating back to 2010. The statement was made by THA Finance and Enterprise Development Secretary, Assemblyman Joel Jack, at yesterday’s post — executive council media briefing. 

Jack said: “We have that mechanism at our disposal and I believe that at the conclusion of our deliberation (with the Minister of Finance) that might be one of the options available to us. “In addition to getting this year’s arithmetic correct we also have the issue of previous year’s balances that are owed to the THA.”

Jack said beyond the legal measure in terms of financing Tobago’s developmental agenda a THA team, led by Chief Secretary Orville London, recommended to the minister, if he was unable to fund Tobago’s development needs, to  allow the THA under the law to float two Tobago Development Bonds, a billion dollars this year and a billion dollars in another year.

3 Billion Budget Allocation for Tobago House of Assembly 2013

Tobago will receive $3.309 Billion or 5.39 percent of the nation's 2013/2014 Budget.

However, Finance Minister Larry Howai stayed clear of giving the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) approval to source funds for off budget projects such as housing which was being sought by the Assembly during its meetings with the Minister over the past month.

In an immediate response Chief Secretary Orville London who was present in the Parliament Chamber with other Secretaries to listen to the budget address expressed disappointment at this and said he was hoping that in subsequent discussions with the Minister Howai this will be achieved.