Secretary of Finance, Trade and the Economy in the Tobago House of Assembly, Petal-Ann Roberts, has given thanks for the $2.7 billion budgetary allocation Tobago received in the 2027 National Budget.
Speaking at a Thanksgiving Service for the Division at the Victor E. Bruce Financial Complex on Tuesday, she said she was choosing gratitude over disappointment, noting the economic challenges facing countries worldwide.
“When the budget was read, the Chief Secretary and I had to repent because we were so disdained, and we were not as thankful as we should be because it could have been worse because the globe right now is going through so much turmoil, and we are still here with smiles on our faces and salaries in our bank account.”
While acknowledging the challenges faced by the public amid the current economic climate, Secretary Roberts urged her staff to work diligently to ensure they are the best stewards of the public’s purse.
“I therefore encourage every member of staff to be responsible, diligent and productive. Let integrity guide your decisions always, including when no one is watching. Let us be careful with public funds, fruitful in our reporting and fair in our treatment of others.”
The Thanksgiving Service is part of the Division’s annual slate of activities for Finance Month. THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and several members of the Tobago House of Assembly’s Executive Council also attended.