‘22,000 people were retrenched,’ Imbert says

OPPOSITION Leader Pennelope Beckles has accused the Government of failing to address concerns about the economy, unemployment and public spending during the budget debate.

Speaking yesterday during a news conference at the Red House in Port of Spain following a walkout by the Opposition bench during the earlier budget debate, Beckles said the Government had not adequately answered the Opposition’s concerns about the country’s economic performance.

She said the public expected the budget debate to provide information about the Government’s plans, its performance and the way forward for the country. She reiterated figures of 0.5% real GDP growth for 2025, a forecast contraction of 2.2%, a projected 6.6% decline in the energy sector in 2026 and 0.7% growth in the non-energy sector. She also referred to an unemployment rate of 5.4% for the first quarter.