Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Nicholas Morris has defended the 2026/2027 National Budget, rejecting Opposition claims about the management of the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund.
Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Nicholas Morris dismissed the Opposition Leader’s criticism of the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund (HSF), arguing that the fund has reached a record level under the current administration.
“Do you know, Mr. Speaker, that between April 2025, when Honourable Member for Siparia took office and the member for Fyzabad as finance minister? The HSF grew from US 5.98 billion dollars, to US 6.58 billion, the highest in history. The highest in history. The highest in history. So don’t come here with cherry pick, chat GPT, facts. Right? AI will write it wrong. It’s either AI or Diego Martin North East somebody mislead the leader of the opposition.”
He also took aim at a reported $414,000 bill for a New Year’s Eve event held at the former Prime Minister’s Tobago residence during the State of Emergency, alleging that UDeCOTT had been asked to foot the bill.
“And let me tell you what that party. So while they call an SOE, they were drinking champagne, caviar, but here what the 400 on your back. $414,000 for catering and bar, printing material, shuttle and transportation.”
On Municipal funding, he rejected claims that Corporations were being short-changed, pointing to increased allocations for several Municipalities.
“Port of Spain City Corporation, that is not UNC, they getting 60 million more. More more. San Fernando City Corporation, 55 million dollars more. Arima Borough Corporation, 22 million dollars more. Maybe if the member for Arima already book, she wouldn’t have the member wouldn’t have had to come here today and talk about projects. Now, let’s go again. Point Fortin, Borough Corporation, Increase by 20 million dollars.”
Minister Morris said additional funding had also been allocated to the Diego Martin, San Juan/Laventille and Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporations.
He also challenged the PNM’s record on national security spending, questioning the effectiveness of more than $560 million spent over the last decade when, he argued, citizens continued to feel unsafe.
“It became a tool to empower and enrich their friends and finances. They would tell you about the allocation. But did you get any value for that? You see, Mr. Speaker, in the last 10 years, last 10 budgets, we have spent over 560 million dollars. That’s under them. And because you spent 560 million in 10 years, the people of this country never felt safe. That is why they voted for Siparia on April 28th.”
Minister Morris also rejected claims that Trinidad and Tobago is in a recession, arguing that international recognition and renewed investor confidence point to an economy on the path to recovery.