Opposition leader Basdeo Panday is demanding that the Government provide statistical data to show the true state of the economy.

’I want Mr (Patrick) Manning to come clean with real figures, because he has repeatedly refused to do so,’ Panday said in a press release yesterday.

’Businesses have already begun sending home staff, they are cutting production and surplus spending,’ Panday said.

Panday said a year ago when the United States economy began reporting a downturn in their economy following the crash of their housing market, which led to a recession around the world, the People’s National Movement (PNM) administration insisted that Trinidad and Tobago was not experiencing any downturn against the advice of the world financial bodies, senior economists and the nation’s leading banks.

The Prime Minister told the nation some months ago to tighten their belts, now he is saying to loosen that belt,’ Panday said.