THA Chief Secretary Orville London is advising Tobagonians that due to the country’s challenging economic situation they will have to make “adjustments” in the next fiscal year.

Speaking at yesterday’s (September 28) post Executive Council media briefing at the Administrative Complex, Calder Hall, London said he’s expecting a smaller budgetary allotment than the THA received for fiscal 2016.

“Like the rest of the country, the Tobago House of Assembly recognises the difficult financial situation in which the country has been placed, and we will not be surprised if the budget does not have the kind of generous allocation that we would have had even up to last year,” the Chief Secretary said.

London said he hopes Tobago will be treated with the “level of equity which was evident in the 2016 fiscal budget.”

He revealed that the Assembly will meet in a special session next Wednesday (October 5) for post Budget Day discussions.

During this meeting, the Assembly will come “up with our priorities as we chart the way forward,” the Chief Secretary explained. He cautioned that if Tobagonians are not “ready to accept that sacrifices will have to be made,” fiscal 2017 will be even more challenging for the island.”

“We would have to be able to deliver more with less,” he said. “This has to be a partnership between the Assembly and the people.”