This is an absolutely ridiculous claim made by the PM! How can you say to the nation "tighten your belts" and then you decide to upgrade the old airport! Not a cost has been given as to this "upgrade"! One has to question why? There is a perfectly excellent airport built to international standards with concourses to aircraft doors that meet international safety and ISO requirements and recently given the all clear by the FAA last year in 2007/08. Why then? This is simply another ploy by this regime to siphon money from this "upgrade" to other "personal" gains...as well as creating an unseen view of this regimes' comings and goings out of the country through the use of very "private jets" that this country and it's citizenry will never see! By upgrading this old airport, the PNM can leave this country without anyones knowing. And what is this upgrade expected to cost? Not a cent has yet to be disclosed by Mariano Browne. Only saying that the budgetary allowance was TT$630M for the two conferences being held here in Trinidad and Tobago (Express Newspaper Wednesday Dec. 31st 2008 pg3). The summit in April and CHOGM in Novemeber! How absurd?

Oil prices continue to plummet and all they are concerned about is more spending! According to the IMF in its' November 17th 2008 report on Trinidad and Tobago, "Economic growth is projected to decline in the face of a deteriorating external environment”. The IMF projected growth to slow down from 31⁄2 percent in 2008 to about 2 percent in 2009. The Central Bank Governor echoed these same concerns commenting in the Express Newspaper of Tuesday, November 18th 2008, “Government's rapid development and spending on projects and rapid bank credit expansion” have caused such inflation in the local economy. Yet what does the great PM do? upgrade the old airport! Totally ignoring the advice of the IMF and even his own Central Bank Governor? But that is the signs of a dictator...ignore all others and be a God unto your ownself! We shall truly experience tightening... it will be in the form of not being able to buy bread soon, flour, rice, potatoes...but have no fear..we will have a good airport...tell that to the woman with four children trying to make ends meet...oh yes..Vote PNM...they care!