Statement by Catholic Commission for Social Justice on Monday's budget
AS FINANCE Minister Colm Imbert prepares to deliver potentially the last budget speech before the next general election, the Catholic Commission for Social Justice (CCSJ) urges the Government to prepare a budget that is oriented to the common good. As we seek to grow our economy, we must ensure that the resources of the nation are used to create conditions which will improve the material standard of living of all our people.
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 budget. Our people are our greatest asset. Economic justice requires that the economy serves the people. Therefore, all budgetary decisions should be underpinned by a consideration of issues such as equity, equality and distributive justice.
Over the years, Pope Francis has highlighted the need to put “community” at the heart of all socio-economic development. He urges each country to create an economy at the service of each human being – not just of the few, but of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.
He says: “A community that knows how to give a voice to the voiceless is what we all need.” We pray that TT’s budget-making process will embrace the concept of building a nation in which, as the pope says, "the weak and voiceless can feel welcome and heard."
Francis calls on nations to promote integral ecology, that is, the development of all dimensions of a person and of each person, while at the same time promoting ecological justice, since everything is connected. He reminds us that care for the environment and care for the poor go hand-in-hand – they “stand or fall together.”
Our national budget must take into consideration resources that are required to address the environmental challenges we face; for example, the adverse impact of climate change. The concept of integral ecology requires us to have a plan to protect our environment not only for ourselves, but for future generations.
TT faces fiscal challenges, including the cost of grappling with high levels of crime and violence. We are sure that in preparing the budget, our leaders will have read the signs of the times, including TT’s position on various international reports.
For example, on the Corruption Perceptions Index (2023), TT ranks 76 out of 180 countries. On the Global Innovation Index (2023), TT ranks 102 of 132 countries. On the Global Competitiveness Index, TT ranks 79 out of 141 countries in 2019.
Although, according to the UNDP’s Human Development Index Report (2023/2024), of the 193 countries surveyed TT is positioned at number 60, for those of us working on the “ground” the gap between the rich and the poor is widening daily.
For a small nation of approximately 1.4 million people, far too many of our brothers and sisters live in poverty and lack the basic necessities; many are socially excluded and live on the margins of society. Everyone must have a place at t
