Finance Minister Colm Imbert’s 2022 Budget presentation was long in rhetoric but short on substance.

That’s the assertion by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who said government had failed to sufficiently highlight the needs of the people most impacted by the pandemic.

“What they say now? The Maths is not mathsing with this budget,” Persad-Bissessar said in her official response to the 3 and a half hour long presentation.

“Citizens wanted to hear what will ease their burden,” she said, accusing the Minister of regurgitating old promises while failing to adequately address the challenges of the present moment. 

Persad-Bissessar said there were no ideas to generate jobs or to help thousands who are struggling to put food on the table.

With education receiving the largest budgetary allocation at $6.9 billion, the Opposition Leader lamented: “Thousands have no access to education. What future will these children have? They are locked out of education,” she slammed.

“How can the country emerge from the crisis when your revenue is down? Our energy production under their watch has fallen. What are your plans to increase?” she asked.