The Chamber at the Assembly Legislature is set to make history on Monday, June 23, 2025, as Councillor Petal-Ann Roberts, Secretary of the Division of Finance, Trade, and the Economy, delivers her inaugural budget address for the 2025/2026 fiscal year. This landmark presentation marks the fourth such exercise for the Tobago People’s Party (TPP) administration and, notably, is the first occasion a female Finance Secretary will articulate Tobago’s financial blueprint. The presentation is anticipated to introduce a “fresh, transformative approach” to the island’s economic planning, occurring under the newly elected United National Congress (UNC) central government in Trinidad. Tobagonians will be keenly observing how this new political alignment influences Tobago’s long-standing fiscal narrative and its pursuit of enhanced autonomy.
The Quest for Fiscal Equity and Autonomy
For decades, Tobago’s budgetary discourse has been shaped by a consistent aspiration for greater internal self-governance and a more equitable share of national resources. Chief Secretary Farley Augustine has been a steadfast proponent of this position throughout his tenure, characterizing it as a generational endeavor to overcome historical fiscal imbalances and address what was previously termed “budgetary attrition” experienced under the former People’s National Movement (PNM) central government. His previous budget statements, including “Towards a Smarter, Greener, More Autonomous Tobago” (Fiscal 2023) and “Building a Sustainable, Prosperous and Resilient Tobago” (Fiscal 2024), consistently underscored the administration’s commitment to charting its own developmental course.
Historically, Tobago’s fiscal allocations have often presented a challenge. Despite the Dispute Resolution Commission’s (DRC) 2000 recommendation that Tobago receive between 4.03% and 6.9% of the national budget, actual allocations under the previous administration tended to remain at the lower end of this spectrum. In Fiscal 2023, the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) received $2.6 billion, representing a 33.3% variance from its $3.97 billion request. Subsequent years brought similar alleged shortfalls, with Chief Secretary Augustine previously asserting an accumulated $152 million in unreleased parliamentary allocations from 2017-2022.
However, the political landscape has recently undergone a significant transformation with the general election on April 28, 2025, bringing the United National Congress (UNC), under the leadership of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, into central government. Indications from the new administration suggest a more collaborative approach to inter-island relations. Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo, in a recent parliamentary sitting, unveiled a new policy initiative: all central government ministries and state agencies engaged in projects and programs in Tobago will now be required to engage directly with the Chief Secretary, Tobago’s two Members of Parliament, and the THA administration to finalize expenditures for Fiscal 2025. This measure aims to ensure that Tobago’s elected representatives have a direct and influential voice in national expenditure decisions affecting the island, representing a significant shift towards a more integrated and consultative framework for development planning.
Councillor Roberts: Championing Efficiency and Collaboration
Stepping into her new role, Councillor Petal-Ann Roberts brings a strategic focus on technocratic governance to the finance portfolio. In previous statements, she has consistently underscored the paramount importance of operational efficiency and digital transformation within the THA, recognizing the critical need to streamline processes and reduce delays. Her pragmatic outlook and emphasis on “mutual respect” in discussions with the new Finance Minister suggest a constructive approach to inter-governmental relations.
Councillor Roberts has been instrumental in advancing initiatives to digitize the THA’s accounting systems, a reform actively supported by the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre (CARTAC). This strategic move is poised to enhance operational “speed and efficiency” and elevate the “quality of public service delivery.” A notable development reinforcing this new approach is the UNC’s fulfillment of its campaign promise to repeal the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority (TTRA) Act. This action directly addresses a long-standing concern of the THA regarding revenue collection and its autonomy, aligning with Councillor Roberts’s strategic objectives for fiscal governance.
Furthermore, Roberts has outlined a deliberate commitment to investing in entrepreneurial development through the Tobago Development Fund, emphasizing robust technical support alongside financial assistance. This aligns with the administration’s core agenda to invigorate the micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) sector, acknowledged as a vital component of the island’s economy, and to bolster long-term business sustainability. The 2025/2026 budget statement is expected to reinforce the establishment of the Tobago Development Fund as a mechanism for long-term investment financing and business support, complemented by a new Loan Guarantee Programme.
Tomorrow’s Budget presentation is slated to begin at 10:00 AM, from the Assembly Legislature Building.
