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Economist and former senator Taharqa Obika has described the first budget of the United National Congress (UNC) administration, as “heavy in rhyme but hollow in economic reason.”

Obika, who previously served as a UNC senator before crossing the floor to the People’s National Movement (PNM), delivered a sharp critique of the $59.2 billion national budget presented by Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo in the Parliament on October 13. He said Tancoo's maiden budget presentation may have been delivered with energy and eloquence, but lacked the economic depth and direction required to guide the country’s recovery.

“The minister read with such energy that he lost his voice as he recited poetry from Khalil Gibran and even the UNC’s campaign slogan about winning. But though heavy in rhyme, it was regrettably hollow in economic reason,” he said in a WhatsApp message to the Newsday.