Budget Debate Set For April 25 & 26

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Ahreefa Bacchus/BVI Platinum News

(PLTM) - Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon. Andrew Fahie has disclosed that deliberations on the $426 million 2019 budget estimates by the Standing Finance Committee will conclude today, April 18.

Hon. Fahie related that this will be followed by the debate of the budget estimates, which will be done next week.

“The debate is the 25th and 26TH (of April),” he told BVI Platinum News.

On April 2, the Premier unveiled what he dubbed as a “transitional budget,” saying that he would have liked to see greater investments on the capital side.

This year, the Ministry of Health and Social Development received the biggest slice of the budget with 20.9 percent, followed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture with 15.4 percent.

The Premier’s Office was allocated 10 percent of the budget, while the Ministry of Finance is expected to receive 13.4 percent.

Constitutionally established departments received 2.7 percent of the budget allocations, while the Governor’s group received 11.5 percent.

Other allocation breakdowns are as follows: Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration- 2.7 percent, Ministry of Transportation Works and Utilities- 14.6 percent, and Pensions, Public Debt and Funds Contribution- 8.7 percent.

“In 2019, we estimate development expenditure to be $73. 4 million” the Premier had stated during his budget speech, adding, “$10.6 million in capital and acquisitions, and $62.7 million in infrastructure development across the Territory.”

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