BUDGET STATEMENT 2014
31
SUSTAINING GROWTH, SECURING PROSPERITY
Mr.
Speaker,
the
mobilisation
and
engagement of communities throughout
Trinidad and Tobago is making positive
contributions to our nation’s sustainable
development and success. The Community
Centre Construction and Refurbishment
Programme is a catalyst for social change.
It is creating and enabling a focal point in the
community where citizens can meet, plan and
execute programmes to generate growth and
community development. Five new centres
have been commissioned and construction
works are near complete on an additional 19
community centres.
TRANSPORTATION
Mr. Speaker, in respect of road transportation,
we have already expanded the Coach Service
to accommodate passengers in Sangre Grande
and we are extending this service to Couva and
Chaguanas with the addition of 35 new buses to
the existing fleet.
In respect of sea transportation, in July 2013,
we launched a chartered Ferry Service between
Port of Spain and Chaguaramas. Initially, until
September 2013, the service will be limited to
weekends and thereafter we will introduce 3
daily round-trip sailings. The Water Taxi Service
also undertook its first service to Venezuela
and Grenada under a charter arrangement and
plans are being formulated for developing these
routes as lucrative ventures. Consideration is
also being given to a water taxi service between
Chaguanas and Port of Spain.
WATER RESOURCES
Mr. Speaker, we have been devoting substantial
effort to managing the production and
distribution of our water resources. We are well
within reach of our objective of ensuring that our
citizens, both inTrinidad and inTobago, all have a
consistent access to potable water.
SOCIAL CARE AND COMMUNITY
ADVANCEMENT
Mr. Speaker, the Government continues to place
great emphasis on easing the social challenges
posed by poverty, social inequality and social
exclusion. We have in place a comprehensive
network of programmes and services which
protect and assist vulnerable and marginalised
groups in our society:
• over 40,000 households continue to benefit
from the Targeted Conditional Cash Transfer
Programme;
• in December 2012, the Elderly and
Differently-abled
Mobile
Service
was
launched with a fleet of 27 buses to cater to
the transportation needs of the elderly and
differently-abled members of our society;
• in January 2013, a direct deposit service was
launched to provide a more convenient and
safer way for senior citizens to access their
pensions;
• in February 2013, the Disability Assistance
Grant was increased from $1,300 to $1,500
permonth,providingmorepurchasingpower
to over 24,100 differently-abled citizens; and
• in February 2013, the Special Child Grant
was also increased from $800 to $1,000 per
month.Approximately 2,336 special children
benefit from this grant.
Mr. Speaker, in the next fiscal year we will
continue to provide social support to vulnerable
groups so as to sustainably enhance their
well-being:
• we will complete the National Development
Centre in Carlsen Field, Chaguanas for
persons with physical disabilities. There will
be therapy rooms, fitness centre, day care
centre space, occupational therapy kitchen
and rehabilitative services provision; and
• we will establish a Day Activity Centre
for persons with physical disabilities in
Gasparillo.
