00:00connect with us on facebook at ccn tv6 trinidad and tobago on x using the handle at tv6 tnt on
00:13instagram hashtag tv6 tnt and via our website www.tv6tnt.com southern pnm controlled municipal
00:24corporations have received approximately 1.29 billion dollars in budgetary allocations nearly
00:31490 million dollars more than the 799 million allocated to seven unc controlled corporations
00:39the figures highlighted by prime minister kamala passad besessa shows that the pnm corporations
00:45also received a large increase over the last year but while the prime minister points to the
00:49allocations as evidence that the pnm corporations are receiving substantial funding she's launched
00:55a scathing attack on how she believes the money will be spent irvishy tiwari ruplarine reports
01:01in light of criticism from pnm heads of corporation over developmental funding cuts and disparities
01:09that they blame on political victimization the prime minister has responded she quotes from budget
01:16documents titled transfers and subsidies saying seven pnm controlled municipal corporations are
01:23receiving approximately 1.29 billion dollars in allocations compared with approximately 799
01:31million for seven unc controlled corporations that is a difference of approximately 490 million
01:39dollars in favor of the pnm corporations the prime minister says pnm corporations also received a
01:45larger increase over last year to the tune of 276 million dollars compared with 183 million for their
01:54unc counterparts in a pointed response to complaints about the allocations kamala passad besessa said the
02:00pnm corporations had received almost half a billion dollars more than the unc corporations she tells cv6
02:08quote they got almost half a billion dollars more than the unc but still complain end quote the prime
02:14minister went on to question how effectively the pnm corporations would use the funds alleging that
02:20money could be squandered rather than translated into tangible improvements for constituents she said
02:26quote it doesn't matter if you give the pnm corporations every cent of the budget they will find a way
02:33to either
02:34thief waste or fat it out with nothing to show they have been doing so for decades and will continue
02:41to do so
02:41end quote passad besessa also alleged quote they are just going to take that money and throw it behind
02:48ghost workers and inflated contracts for their financiers end quote the prime minister ended her
02:55response with a further criticism of the pnm controlled corporation saying quote the constituents in those
03:01pnm corporations like it like that so enjoy end quote the allocations have become a point of contention with
03:09the prime minister using the figures to challenge complaints from the pnm despite the higher overall
03:15funding allocated to its seven corporations or vishita murray rupnerine tv6 news
