SOCIAL SECTOR INVESTMENT PROGRAMME
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SUSTAINING GROWTH, SECURING PROSPERITY
CHAPTER 4: OVERVIEW OF THE SOCIAL SECTOR FOR 2013
estimate of TT$7.6 billion. The amendments are
reflective of Government’s expansionary fiscal
and monetary policy, which was outlined in the
national budget for 2013.
The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and
Tobago remained committed to a fiscal stance
that is stable, people oriented and responsible.
This has been achieved through increased
funding to education, social programmes,
infrastructure, culture and environment. It
forms part of the overall strategy for sustainable
development, which includes the availability of
an array of social programmes to assist with
achieving the country’s human development
objectives. These programmes include inter alia,
the following:
• Expansion of Government Assistance for
Tuition Expenses (GATE);
• LIFE-Sport;
• Student Laptop Programme;
• Utilities Assistance Programme (UAP).
4.1 BUDGETED ALLOCATIONS
TO THE SOCIAL SECTOR
TheMinisterof Finance,inthe2012/2013Budget
presentation emphasized Trinidad and Tobago’s
stable economic outlook arising from stringent
measures implemented to ensure that the fiscal
and external debt has limited impact on future
generations. The current economic action plan
of the government is focused on accelerating
growth, through: building a competitive
economy through focused investment and a
targeted reform agenda and stimulating growth,
which will result in increased revenues for the
private and public sector.
Accordingly, in fiscal 2013, the core Social
Sector Ministries in Trinidad including the
Social Services Divisions of the Tobago House
of Assembly (THA), received thirty-six percent
(36%) of the Government’s revised total
expenditure, directed towards achieving the
sustainable development agenda (see Figure 4.I
below).
Figure 4.1 indicates that 36% of the Budget was
allocated to core social sector ministries in fiscal
2013. This represented a total of TT$22 billion
from the revised national expenditure figure
of TT$61 billion for both recurrent and capital
expenditure.
The Health, Education and Housing, Land and
Marine Affairs sectors received a total of 59% of
the budgeted allocation for 2013, as compared
to 56% in 2012.
The Ministry of the People and Social
Development received
TT3.6 billion
(16.8%)
towards improving the standard of living of
all citizens, with particular emphasis on the
vulnerable (see Figure 4.II). This is in keeping
with the levels of Government’s allocations for
previous years: 18.4% ($3.5 billion) in 2013 and
19% ($3.4 billion) in 2012. This allocation also
represented approximately 5.9% of the national
budget dedicated to addressing the challenges
of poverty, and exclusion as compared with
6.9% in 2011 and 2013, respectively.
Allocation to Core Social Sector Ministries
& Social Sercives Divisions of the THA 36%
Allocation to Ministries 64%
Figure 4.I:
Percentage of the Budget Allocated to
the Core Social Sector Ministries and
Social Services Divisions of the THA for
Fiscal 2012/2013
SOURCE:
Ministry of Finance, Budget Estimates 2013 & Tobago
House of Assembly Estimates 2012
