FINANCE Minister Davendranath Tancoo said the government was committed to paying workers and building the economy, in a statement sent to Newsday on August 27.

He was replying to Diego Martin North East MP Colm Imbert who had alleged at a PNM rally in Morvant on August 26 that the government was re-purposing some $1.3 billion in loans taken for infrastructure projects to instead pay public sector salaries. Imbert alleged these loans included $200 million to Palo Seco Agricultural Enterprises (for serviced lots for ex-Petrotrin workers), $150 million for the Land Settlement Agency (for concrete structures to replace shacks), $350 million to WASA (for pipeline and pump replacement), plus sums for schools and local government works.

Tancoo declared, "I am proud to say that this government is meeting its obligations to public sector workers and will continue to do so."