PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – President of the Couva Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce (CPLCC) wants the government to consider the financial challenges of citizens of Trinidad and Tobago when it presents the 2023-24 national budget in Parliament on October 2.
Speaking with the Guardian Newspaper on Sunday at the Chamber’s annual Family Day and Cookout, Mukesh Ramsingh said that any additional measures would be unbearable for citizens based on the current cost of living.
He said that based on past budgets, there are more measures they would not like to see implemented compared to those they wish to see.
“We would not like to see rising fuel prices. We ask that the Minister of Finance, in his wisdom, try and keep the fuel prices the same or find a way to reduce fuel prices,” Ramsingh said, adding, “We hope there would be no more rise in taxes.”
Ramsingh would also like to see a rebate on the purchase of surveillance equipment, which he believes should be made available to businesses and individuals.
“With the crime situation, we ask for a tax rebate of 150-200 percent on surveillance equipment.
“Although there are no duties on it, prices are going up, and we are asking for a tax rebate to assist businesses to continue to increase their security,” the head of the Chamber said.
His budget suggestions come as Finance Minister Colm Imbert lashes back on what he calls “uninformed and speculative commentary” in the public domain regarding the recent decision by Republic Bank, Trinidad and Tobago’s largest commercial bank, to reduce credit card limits from US$10,000 to US$5,000.
The Finance Minister said he was not involved in this matter, and as a rule, the Minister of Finance does not interfere with the day-to-day operations and internal decisions of commercial banks.
and then  wants the government to consider the financial challenges){kind=link}