After days of debate and examining every line of expenditure and revenue before the Standing Finance Committee, the National Budget 2027 was passed in the House of Representatives on Saturday.
The Appropriation (Financial Year 2027) Bill 2026 also referred to as the National Budget 2027 was passed in the Lower House on Saturday.
Among the last to present their figures before the Standing Finance Committee, was the Office of the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister, Kamla Persad Bissessar pointed out the differences between her administration and the previous one.
“No longer a slush fund for the lavish lifestyles for those who treated themselves as emperors. From 2016 to 2025, our nation’s taxpayers funded nineteen point two million dollars in official entertainment for the Office of the Prime Minister. From 2016 to 2025, while thousands lost their jobs, the office of the Prime Minister spent eighty point five million dollars on the Prime Minister’s establishment, simply put on the Prime Minister’s household.”
The Prime Minister also said shared some pertinent figures.
“From 2016 to 2025, while thousands lost their lives to crime, the Office of the Prime Minister spent fourteen point seven million dollars on hosting conferences and seminars. In total, over the last ten years, the Office of the Prime Minister spent one hundred and forty million dollars on fine dining, vacations, fine wine, sight seeing and splurging as our nation suffered.”
The Prime Minister added that in the last administration’s 2025 budget, the allocation to the OPM was even higher.
“In 2025, under the previous administration the OPM allocated one point two billion dollars, a high allocation to fund luxury lifestyles. In the first fiscal year of my government, as these estimates will show, we restored fiscal responsibility with a revised allocation of sixty five point seven million dollars, down from one point two billion dollars from the previous year under that administration.”
For the coming year, Prime Minister Persad Bissessar explained the increase in expenditure in her Office.
“This fiscal 2027 the allocation inclusive of development programme is four hundred and sixty two point seven million dollars. Importantly, the OPM’s recurrent expenditure increases by twenty six million. Why? To support higher salaries as we remain commited to the workers agenda.”
The Budget debate will continue in the Senate on Monday.