Tobago stakeholders are not optimistic ahead of the 2025 Budget.
They say that this is based on years of reduced allocations in comparison to their requests.
Chief Secretary Farley Augustine yesterday said the island should expect another dose of unfair treatment when the fiscal package is delivered on September 30.
“I am not hopeful that the budget measures will redound to the rebounding of the economy. Not hopeful that the measures he will present will provide for peace, safety and security for all. Not hopeful that the budget will cause citizens to hope for a brighter future. Not hopeful that Tobago will be treated well in the measures to be presented,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association President Alpha Lorde said he expects nothing big.
“New year same thing. The reality is historical lyrics. We have had budgets read and numbers put forward as to X for security, X for tourism and we have not had an accountability that says for the money put forward we would have achieved the things that we were going to do. My concern is we are going to go into a new fiscal year not necessarily being able to review clearly the things that were supposed to get done,” he said.