Sport Minister Shamfa Cudjoe is facing heavy backlash for her comments about the 2023 budget, in which she said Trinbagnians “want everything for nothing” and were unwilling to sacrifice.

The Minister was speaking during Tuesday’s commissioning of the Tacarigua Community Centre.

Echoing the Finance Minister’s comparison of the T&T economy to countries like Jamaica and Barbados, Minister Cudjoe offered that it was “chalk and cheese”.

“There are difficult decisions to make, but we march on so that the daughter of a labourer can become a doctor or the son of a fisherman can become a pilot,” she said. “We in Government have held on to our commitment for free quality education,” she said.

“Everyone wants eve­ry­thing for nothing and we all want the good life right now, but people right now don’t even have proper savings for themselves and far less for their children, but why is it so hard to sacrifice?” she asked rhetorically.

Her comments have been largely critcized online, with Opposition MP for Moruga/Tableland Michelle Benjamin among those condemning thee sentiments.

Benjamin called the comments “unfortunate, unbelievable and uncouth”, saying the Minister was clearly out of touch with the realties of everyday families.

 “The Minister is talking about sacrifice. While she may be able swipe her card and buy anything her heart desires, basic food items are beyond the reach for the average citizen because of the draconian policies of this Government, where the only plan is to make the rich get richer with nothing trickling down to the poor, except of course having to pay for their bad decisions,” the UNC MP said.

“Instead of talking down to citizens, the Minister for Sport and Community Development should come to the communities in our nation and experience first-hand the suffering of families who are suffering,” she said, calling on the Minister to apologize.