The 2009-2010 Budget is the best ever by this Patrick Manning led government of Trinidad and Tobago. It could have not been better complied with the most concern ever by our caring government.

Government revenue of 40 million dollars will be pegged on the fines imposed on errant drivers. At long last crime will pay. Transferring a vehicle will also be a penalty on the public as these new charges is expected to take an estimated 10 million extra out of the small man’s pocket and into the coffers. Also isn’t it great that after working so hard and purchasing your home you now have to pay a much higher property tax that can go as high as Seventy Thousand Dollars per year.

But that is not what has gotten me upset. It’s the missing monies I cannot account for. This is the fourth year that I am hearing about Highway development and rapid rail, monies allocated each and every year, yet we have not seen any rapid rail. Where de money gone? That is the part of this budget that continues to amaze me.

Additionally the price of oil has been stated by experts in the field to be pegged at USD 5.00 to high at USD 55.00 per barrel.

The proposal to repair agricultural roads is great; I am still waiting to see how it’s going to make my grocery bill smaller. Oh wait, yes there is NAMDEVCO, but this is only for technical support and advice so I guess cassava not going down just yet. Oh yes, the Agricultural ranger squad; the group of rangers to ensure that farmer’s crops are not stolen. Sounds great! But isn’t this the police service job?

I like the idea about dealing with drainage. How about if we get town and country to demolish illegal structures on the river banks. How about an increase for littering too as these are big factors.

Education. This is a big sore point. It is a fantastic idea that 15 primary schools and 12 secondary schools are being built. But what has gotten me upset is the lack of allocated funds to support existing schools. How is it that on the secondary start of the new school term, parents of some of our schools including colleges are given donation sheets soliciting for the financial administration of the new school year. As the Principal said, the Government pay salaries, we does have to ketch we ass for everything else.

National Security; nothing good can really be said here. Yes 6 fast patrol boats, yes four more helicopters, Yes more money for Sautt, but I like the mypath/mylat programme. Having an intimate idea of the programme they should make it mandatory that unemployed youths go trough this programme rather than liming on the block and playing wappie.

It is very evident that the Government has every intention of removing the subsidy on petrol as this takes close to 900million dollars of the treasury’s funds annually
The support my means of tax deduction for converting to CNG is a great idea. The current cost of conversion is approximately $9400.00 TTD for a 70 litre kit. Good for a 1.6 - 2.0 cc vehicle. That will give you about 200km per tank full at the cost of $16.00 TTD. Not bad eh? Especially when this second interchange comes into existence and you can drive from Port of Spain to San Fernando without seeing a traffic light. You see why this $1000.00 fine important?

But at the end of the day, here are the real conclusions.

Food prices still high, crime reduction still a losing battle. Government revenue based on an inflated oil and gas price, coupled with taxes.

Now I know that this will just give you more stress, but you can go down to your local pub and sip a lager or premium drink. Alas: you will be paying more for that too as distressingly this has gone up. Don’t forget it will be soon cheaper to buy weed than cigarettes.

Sean De Mills was last seen pondering the possibility of never voting for anybody who has spent more than 5 minuits in the red house. like that place does turn people stupid