The Honourable Joel Sampson, newly elected Member of Parliament for Tobago West, delivered his inaugural address in the House of Representatives during the 4th Sitting of the 13th Republican Parliament. Speaking during the debate on the motion to adopt the Report of the Standing Finance Committee, MP Sampson presented historical and current financial challenges faced by the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), alongside a vision for enhanced autonomy and equitable resource allocation for Tobago.
Mr. Sampson commenced his contribution by acknowledging the trust placed in him by the constituents of Tobago West and the wider Tobagonian populace. He underscored his commitment to effective representation through tangible actions, stating, “We will speak with our actions and not our mouths”. He also articulated a broader national perspective, asserting that the current period represented “the people of Trinidad and Tobago’s time”.
An Analysis of Fiscal Underfunding and its Consequences
A central theme of MP Sampson’s address was the sustained underfunding of the Tobago House of Assembly and its profound economic consequences for the island.
- Mid-Term Allocations: While acknowledging a recent allocation of $134 million to Tobago, resulting from “active negotiations” with the current government, Mr. Sampson highlighted a significant reduction in the THA’s development program (DP) allocation for fiscal 2025, noting a $205 million decrease from its requested amount and a 21% cut compared to fiscal 2024.
- Sectoral Cuts: The MP itemized substantial cuts across key sectors, including a 64% reduction in Assembly Legislature, 23% in food security, 43% in tourism, 23% in infrastructure, and 28% in education. He posed a critical question regarding the THA’s capacity to deliver with “such an anemic allocation”.
- Historical Context of Defunding: Mr. Sampson presented data indicating that the defunding of the THA began post-2015, with the development program allocation declining from $403 million in 2015-2016 to $231.6 million in 2019, representing a 43% cut under the previous administration. He characterized this period as economically detrimental to Tobago..
- Post-Pandemic Fiscal Trends: Despite a pardonable low allocation during the pandemic peak, Mr. Sampson pointed out that subsequent increases in 2022 and 2023 were “short-lived,” followed by a $60 million cut in fiscal 2023-24 and an additional $55 million cut in fiscal 2025.
- Oil Spill Response Funding: He cited the 2024 oil spill, where the THA received only $50 million despite a submitted claim of $150 million.
- Disbursement Irregularities: MP Sampson also noted consistent delays in the disbursement of approved allocations, leading to millions in overdraft penalties for the THA, and historical practices of incomplete last-quarter disbursements.
Demographic Shifts and Disparities in Per Capita Investment
MP Sampson presented demographic data to underscore Tobago’s distinct needs for increased funding. He demonstrated that Tobago’s population growth has surpassed national and Trinidadian projections since 1990. From 1980 to 2011, Tobago’s population grew by 54%, compared to Trinidad’s 25.7%. This indicated that Tobago’s population grew at “twice the rate of the Trinidad population over the last 35 years,” leading to a higher per capita demand for goods and services.
He clarified the disparity through per capita development program spending:
- In fiscal 2024, per person spending was $4,441 in Trinidad versus $3,939 in Tobago.
- In fiscal 2025, this gap widened, with $4,046 per person in Trinidad compared to $3,106 per person in Tobago.
- This represents an investment deficit of “at least $1,000 to $1,300 per person into Tobago”.
This persistent underinvestment, MP Sampson argued, contributes to elevated poverty rates in Tobago, which rose from 19% in 2005 to 24% in 2015, and is now estimated at 30%, impacting “one in every three households”. He also highlighted Tobago’s higher cost of living (averaging 30% higher than Trinidad), inflated land prices, and lower average income ($7,084 in Tobago versus $9,201 in Trinidad), culminating in a “60% real deficit in financial capacity” for Tobagonians.
Advocating for Enhanced Autonomy and Legal Adherence
Mr. Sampson asserted that the request for additional resources is “well justified” and “unfounded in fact”. He referenced the Dispute Resolution Commission’s 2000 ruling, which determined that Tobago was “underfunded by the central government” and recommended future allocations between 4.03% and 6.9% of the national budget. He critiqued successive central governments for adopting a “minimalist” approach to these allocations.
Crucially, MP Sampson highlighted recent positive developments indicative of a shift towards greater autonomy:
- The Prime Minister’s directive that $621 million allocated to various ministries and state agencies for Tobago projects “must” now be channeled through the Tobago House of Assembly for direction and action. This was described as a “monumental step towards greater autonomy”.
- The drafting of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to authorize the THA to act as an agent for governmental and state entities concerning responsibilities in Tobago.
- The impending non-objection letter from the IDB for grant funding and technical advising for a development bank in Tobago.
- The expected movement of Town and Country Planning under the THA’s purview.
- The removal of the land license regime and the granting of an export license for Studley Park to generate revenue and foreign exchange.
- Arrangements to expand the THA’s capacity to borrow based on its own creditworthiness.
MP Sampson concluded by urging the current government to avoid past patterns of fiscal deprivation and to “do right by the people of Tobago, not as a favor, but to recognize the needs to apply the law and to give Tobago its just due as we build this nation together and side by side”.
