Budget

Chief Secretary defends design-build-finance model

Chief Secretary Farley Augustine defends his administration’s decision to utilize the private sector in design-build-finance and other funding arrangements for large projects.

Scarborough, Tobago – Chief Secretary Farley Augustine has defended his administration’s decision to use Design-Build-Finance models to fund major infrastructural projects in Tobago. This funding model has sparked controversy following discrepancies highlighted by the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee of Parliament.

Speaking during the debate on the Tobago House of Assembly’s (THA) reprioritized budget, Augustine stated that Design-Build-Finance and other private sector arrangements are the only viable options for advancing certain projects. His defense underscores the challenges faced by the THA in securing traditional funding and its strategic approach to executing large-scale development on the island.