In Trinidad and Tobago, the economic landscape has become a focal point of political debate, particularly following recent criticisms from Opposition Senator Damian Lyder. He has accused the ruling People's National Movement (PNM) government of causing significant economic decline, citing a staggering 20% drop in real GDP from $187.5 billion in 2015 to $150.3 billion in 2023. This decline has been accompanied by the loss of approximately 64,000 jobs since 2015, raising concerns about the country's employment landscape [35f7d0b4].
Lyder highlighted that the total government debt has escalated dramatically from $78 billion to $141 billion, leading to a concerning debt-to-GDP ratio that has worsened from 44% to 76%. He pointed out that the manufacturing sector has also suffered, with its GDP shrinking from $30 billion to $25 billion, and foreign direct investment has decreased by $3 billion over the past three years [35f7d0b4].
Tourism, a vital sector for the economy, has seen a decline in arrivals, dropping from 442,167 under the previous United National Congress (UNC) administration to just 310,237 in 2023. Additionally, funding for agriculture has been cut from $1.44 billion to $1.18 billion, resulting in significant drops in food crop production. The social fabric has also been strained, with over 4,000 murders reported during the PNM's governance [35f7d0b4].
As the government grapples with these economic challenges, the opposition continues to call for accountability and a reevaluation of policies that have led to what they describe as economic 'pain and calamity' for the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago [35f7d0b4].