While there has been no Government decision “at this stage” to cut the number of scholarships awarded to T&T nationals pursuing tertiary level studies, the “level of generosity that existed before” may not be prevailing due to T&T’s stringent circumstances, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has warned.
The PM said so in reply to questions from Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar during the segment on yesterday’s Parliament agenda relating to questions for the Prime Minister. Persad-Bissessar had asked if a cutback on scholarships was being proposed as a cost- cutting initiative.
In response, Rowley said: “Government has taken no decision at this stage to specifically cut scholarships. What we have done is indicate there’s a requirement to cut back on operational expense to the extent that we have been advised by the relevant ministries how those cuts can be made... and we will be so advised.”
On whether UWI’s Debe Campus for the Law Faculty would register students for the 2016-2017 academic year, Rowley said that was a matter within UWI’s control. He said he did not want to give the impression Government was involved in its management.
He said he had no information from UWI whether the campus could receive students or if the university had taken steps to ensure the physical facilities became operational.
On continuation of the Solomon Hochoy Highway extension to Pt Fortin, Rowley said Government had to first find out how much public monies had been spent and how much overpayment was made before determining any future payment.
Due to the volume of work to be done on payments and design changes, he said a statement would be made on the project in the “not to distant future” in Parliament.
Rowley said he didn’t know how much NIDCO’s monthly report on project spending might change the picture since Government didn’t have much confidence in such reports where “overpayments and redesigning had been hidden from the public.”
He also emphasised Government did not propose to revise the policy on importation of foreign used vehicles which his Government changed a week ago. Foreign used car dealers now have to import cars not older than four years.