CCSJ calls for a ‘common good’ budget

As Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Finance, Colm Imbert, prepares to deliver what could be the final budget speech before the next general election, the Catholic Commission for Social Justice (CCSJ) has issued a call for a budget oriented towards the common good.

In a press release ahead of the September 30 parliamentary address, the CCSJ said there was the need for economic policies that benefit all citizens, particularly the most vulnerable.

The Commission, represented by consultant Leela Ramdeen, urged the government to prioritise key social justice principles in its budgetary decisions. “The centrality of the person, the common good, solidarity and subsidiarity are key social justice principles that should guide our government in the preparation of the forthcoming budget,” the CCSJ stated. It further emphasised that “our people are our greatest asset” and that “economic justice requires that the economy serves the people.”

Invoking the teachings of Pope Francis, the CCSJ highlighted the importance of community-centred economic development. The Pope’s vision of “an economy at the service of each human being – not just of the few, but of all, especially the poor and vulnerable” was presented as a guiding principle for Trinidad and Tobago’s fiscal planning.

The press release also addressed environmental concerns, linking ecological justice with social welfare. “Care for the environment and care for the poor go hand-in-hand – they ‘stand or fall together’,” Ramdeen noted, echoing Pope Francis’ concept of integral ecology.

Despite Trinidad and Tobago’s relatively high ranking (60th out of 193 countries) on the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Index, the CCSJ pointed out growing inequality within the nation.

“For a small nation of approximately 1.5 million people, far too many of our brothers and sisters live in poverty and lack the basic necessities,” the statement read, calling for more inclusive economic policies.

The Commission acknowledged the fiscal challenges facing the government, including 16 years of predominantly deficit budgets. However, it suggested that this difficult economic landscape presents an opportunity for restructuring. The CCSJ advocated for a shift away from favouring dominant business sectors towards supporting smaller businesses and poorer sections of society.

Citing Dr Dax Driver, Head of the Energy Chamber, the release proposed targeted subsidy reforms. “Leave the subsidies in place for the poorest households, but better-off households in the top tariff levels do not need an electricity subsidy and commercial businesses should be paying the market rate for electricity,” Driver suggested.

The CCSJ stressed the importance of transparency, inclusivity, and strong oversight in budget management. Quoting the SDG Accountability Handbook, Ramdeen noted, “The decisions made in government budgets, and how those decisions are implemented on the ground, have a direct and transformative impact on people’s lives.”

The Commission called for wise and equitable use of national resources. “Let us reject corruption, the culture of waste, inefficiency and lack of accountability and transparency that exist in certain quarters and which hinder progress,” Ramdeen urged.

The release ended with a powerful reminder of fiscal responsibility: “Now more than ever, every penny counts, if we are to take our nation forward. Let us act as good stewards of our nation’s resources, which are given to us as gift from God.”

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