Government should pay T&TEC debt, not citizens

Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago – Princes Town MP Barry Padarath has criticized Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales for suggesting that citizens pay T&TEC’s $4 billion debt to NGC, describing the demand as “shameless and insolent.”

Padarath reminded the public that in September, Gonzales had admitted that government ministries and state enterprises owed T&TEC $1.5 billion, a sum that has significantly contributed to the company’s financial struggles. Padarath challenged the government to first settle its own debt to T&TEC before placing the burden on citizens. He also questioned whether the government plans to remove the natural gas subsidy for T&TEC, warning of the potential impact on electricity prices. The MP accused the government of being disconnected from the population’s struggles and failing to address the public utilities sector’s poor service and infrastructure.