College of Science, Technology & Applied Arts of Trinidad & Tobago

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY

ASSIGNMENT COVER PAGE

STUDENT NAME: IKER COOPER

STUDENT ID: 00069201

ASSIGNMENT TITLE: Individual Assignment

COURSE CODE: LAW 305 CRN: 10406

COURSE TITLE: Law for Social Workers

PROGRAMME: BSW

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 3RD NOVEMBER, 2023

LECTURER’S NAME: St. Clair Michael O’Neil

The National Budget of a country is the government’s projected spending plan for a

specific time frame (one year). The budget outlines the government’s annual spending

plans, items it plans to fund with appropriations, and the sources of funding it expects to

use to cover those costs (Ministry of Finance, 2023) The time period in which a budget

covers is typically one year in length and it’s called the fiscal year. In Trinidad and

Tobago, the fiscal year begins at October 1 st to September 30th the following year

(Ministry of Finance, 2023)

The 2023-2024 budget, read by the Minister of Finance, The Honorable Colm Imbert,

was approximately five (5) hours long and it addresses and announces a number of

provisions such as increasing minimum wages, easing GATE restrictions and supplying

grants for school supplies and books. Unfortunately, it also imposes an increase in

utilities, gas and the increase of the retirement age.

According to the Trinidad and Tobago’s Guardian, persons working for minimum

wages makes up approximately thirty (30) percent of the workforce (Wilson, 2023).

During and after the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2021-April 2023), prices of food and

non alcoholic drinks has increased by 20.81 percent and the cost of transportation was

increased by 17.25 per cent, during the same period (Wilson, 2023). This would mean

that approximately 147 000 persons, have been working for three thousand ($3000)

dollars a month or less whilst enduring the increases of their living expenses. In the

2023-2024 budget, the government of Trinidad and Tobago proposes an increase of

minimum wages from $17.50 per hour to $20.50 per hour, a three dollar increase. While
this increase may not seem as much, it may very well make a lot of difference to those

that are heavily reliant on their weekly/fortnightly paychecks.

The Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) program was first

implemented in 2004 and it offers financial support to citizens of Trinidad and Tobago

(under the age of fifty (50) years), who are pursuing GATE approved degrees at

accredited institutions nationwide. During its period, GATE underwent a number of

changes, specifically to , the eligibility criteria. When GATE was first implemented, it

was easily accessible with few restrictions and as the years go by, it became more and

more restricted as persons tend to misuse the program. The most recent changes was

made that eligible persons could have only accessed GATE for one level of study, for

example, persons who accessed GATE for their Associates level would not be able to

qualify for GATE should they want to pursue their Bachelor’s. The Honorable Colm

Imbert stated;

“After careful consideration, therefore, we have decided to adjust the criteria for

accessing GATE, to permit students in good standing enrolled in institutions and

programmes accredited by the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago to

qualify for GATE if they have completed an initial programme of study, such as

a diploma or associate degree or the N1 level at UWI and they wish to upgrade

to a bachelor’s degree” (Budget 2023-2024)

This would prove to be beneficial to the thousands of underprivileged students who aim

to improve themselves to have access to a better quality life.

Continuing on with the topic of education and it’s importance, the Government offers

underprivileged primary and secondary school students a thousand dollar ($1000) grant

for school supplies and books. This initiative will aid families living below the poverty

line to purchase basic school necessities as an effort to curb absenteeism due to not

being able to afford the necessary school materials.

Opinion

The 2023-2024 budget may both negatively and positively impact citizens in more ways

than one. Whilst provisions has been made for the less fortunate to regain some sort of

standing economically, they may be placed at a disadvantage. We saw what seems to be

positive outcomes of the budget; increasing minimum wages, etc, but with these

increases also brings an increase of the cost of living. Utilities (water, electricity and

gas) rates are said to increase from January 2023. This would mean that even though the

average minimum wage worker may benefit from the slight increase of their salary, this

addition may very well be used to aid in adjusting to the general economic changes. I

am of the opinion that when ever gas prices raise so does the cost of certain staple food

items within the groceries and with approximately 3.7 percent of our population are

vulnerable to multidimensional poverty and additional 0.6 percent living in

multidimensional poverty, it is safe to say that the slightest increase in the cost of living,

majorly impacts these individuals. The decision to raise retirement age may be an

economically good choice because they’d be getting a pension of three thousand, five

hundred dollars ($3500) every month and they’re not giving anything back to the

country in anyway. However, most people aim to retire at sixty (60) years old for

various of reasons, whether it may be that they started working young, want to spend
time with grandchildren, their health may be declining or even to create room for

promotion and growth amongst those below them.

I am of the belief that despite all the necessary measures made to protect the vulnerable

in society, to protect the citizens and the welfare of the nation, the line; “…having faced

and overcome the many financial and economic challenges of the last 7 years, we will

make a positive difference in the lives of our citizens and leave no one behind….." may

not always be true due to the fact that there’s always someone that isn’t always able to

get the necessary help that they may need. With that being said, I am taking a neutral

stance as I neither agree nor disagree with the statement.

References

https://www.guardian.co.tt/business/can-tt-afford-a-30anhour-minimum-wage-

6.2.1735934.81e2ef25c9#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Central

%20Bank's,labour%2Fwork%20force%20in%202019.

https://www.finance.gov.tt/2023/09/15/national-budget/

https://www.finance.gov.tt/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Final-2024-Budget-

Statement.pdf#page92

https://www.moe.gov.tt/gate-faqs/

https://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/Country-Profiles/MPI/TTO.pd