THE Prime Minister has rejected claims by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar that the economy has collapsed and Government intends to impose a series of punitive measures against the population to raise revenue.

Dr Rowley spoke during debate in the House of Representatives on June 7 on a motion to approve a report by the the House's Standing Finance Committee to supplement the 2023/2024 budget by $2.3 billion.

In her earlier contribution to the debate, Persad-Bissessar claimed TT was bankrupt. She read from what she alleged was a Finance Ministry document that proposed the removal of value added tax (VAT), increased taxes and cutting of social assistance programmes as some of the measures government will take to increase revenue.

Rowley denied all Persad-Bissessar's claims andreminded MPs of what he said were many of the ills which happened under Persad-Bissessar's People's Partnership (PP) coalition government.

He said the government's making the economy collapse had been the UNC's mantra since 2016.

"They are projecting and hoping that the economy collapse and notwithstanding their best wishes, the economy of TT has not collapsed."

Government MPs thumped their desks.

Rowley said when the PNM returned to office on September 9, 2015, "There were billions of dollars to be paid."

Government, he continued, engaged those issues by paying off from revenues or rolling over debt.

Rowley said if this is not done, as the UNC is demanding, there is a consequence to that.

"The alternative is to default on the debt that you have already incurred. Is that what they are asking us to do?"

He suggested this was a case of the Opposition not understanding how refinancing a debt is done, or knowing this and deliberately misleading the population about it.

Rowley said, "It is good management in a difficult period that differentiates the people's circumstances from collapse."

PM 'SAD' FOR UNC LEADER

Government MPs thumped their desks again when he added that the fact that the economy has not collapsed and this country had done well during a very difficult period was a high indication of good governance at work.

"Against that background, our political opponents have to find something to say."

While he was speaking, Rowley observed Persad-Bissessar was leaving the Parliament Chamber,

"Do you know why the leader of the opposition is leaving? Because she knows her time, because my colleague from Siparia knows that her time is near."

Rowley referred to the fact that Naparima MP Rodney Charles, who is aligned with the UNC Patriots slate that is challenging Persad-Bissessar's endorsed Star slate in the UNC's June 15 internal elections, sits to her immediate left in the House. Describing Persad-Bisssessar as "embattled," Rowley said she ended her contribution "not daring to look to the left."

He added, "I feel a tinge of sadness for her."

Government MPs thumped their desks yet again as Rowley described Persad-Bissessar's contribution as an "attempt to deliberately mislead the public."

He said t