Former PNM Minister Criticises Government for Management of Forex Issues and Economy

For the second time, Kennedy Swaratsingh, who served as Minister of Public Administration under the Patrick Manning government—took to a UNC platform to criticise the central government’s management over the past ten years. According to Swaratsingh, Trinidad and Tobago’s economy is in crisis. Speaking in St. Joseph, a constituency he once represented, he said this was evident in the actions of Stuart Young during his first 24 hours as Prime Minister: replacing the Ministers of Finance and National Security, and then calling the general election. Swaratsingh also remarked that he found it interesting how the newly appointed Finance Minister, Vishnu Dhanpaul, was able to make more foreign exchange available to Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), after years of limited access for the private sector. While acknowledging the relief this might bring to some businesses, Swaratsingh said it does not address the root of the country’s foreign exchange challenges. With the country facing high levels of debt, Swaratsingh also criticised the promises being made by the PNM during the election campaign. Swaratsingh believes the UNC is proving itself to be the party with the capacity to address the country’s economic challenges, noting that it is entering the election as a coalition of interests and has been open to ideas from all sectors of society. He stated that people go where they feel welcomed and condemned any attempt by the PNM to label individuals like himself or former Attorney General John Jeremie as “dogs” for endorsing the UNC in this general election.