Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 07, 2016 (SKNIS): The Appropriation Act (2017), 2016, is designed to support the implementation of various plans and programmes of the government said Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, during the Budget Address on Wednesday, December 07.
In presenting the EC$712.9 million Budget, Prime Minister Harris said that the implementation of the plans and programmes is intended to improve the delivery of public service, contribute to the acceleration of growth in the economy and improve the lives of all citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Prime Minister Harris stated that the following allocations comprise the proposals for both recurrent and capital expenditure.
The Governor General will be accorded EC $1.84 million; the Federal Parliament will be allocated EC $1.7 million and the Audit Office will receive just over EC $1 million. The Ministry of Justice, Legal Affairs and Communication will be allocated EC $13.7 million; the Office of the Prime Minister EC $45.4 million; the Ministry of National Security EC $71.7 million; International Trade, Industry and Commerce EC $4.2 million, while the Ministry of Finance and Community Development, Gender Affairs and Social Services get EC $245.7 million and EC $9.1 million respectively.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Human Settlement, Cooperatives and the Environment will receive EC $13.8 million; Ministry of Tourism will be allocated EC $13.9 million; Public Infrastructure, Post and Urban Development and Transport will receive EC $44.7 million, while the Ministries of Education, Health, Youth ,Sport and Culture will be allocated EC $30.3, EC $62.6 and EC $18.1 million respectively. The Ministry of Sustainable Development is set to receive EC $19.4 million; Foreign Affairs and Aviation, EC $19.3 million; Office of the Attorney General EC $12.2 million; and the Ministry of Nevis Affairs, Labour, Social Security and Ecclesiastical Affairs EC $7.80 million.
During his 2017 Budget Address, Dr. Harris stated that St. Kitts and Nevis’ economy for the upcoming year is very promising.
“Mr. Speaker, the outlook for the St. Kitts and Nevis economy for 2017 is positive and the fiscal house of my Team Unity Government is very strong,” he said. “We therefore anticipate success in our endeavour to implement our plans and programmes which will benefit all the citizens and residents in St. Christopher and Nevis.”
The 2017 Budget is presented under the theme “Working Together – Accelerating Growth and Building Resilience”. Prime Minister Harris described the theme as one that can help to communicate a clear message to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis that sustainable and inclusive growth and social cohesion can be achieved if concerted efforts are made.
