Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/2097/-1/135/
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'ANGUILLA INCORPORATED, OPEN FOR BUSINESS' Theme Of 2005 $117.26M Budget Address
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Anguilla’s Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Investment and Commerce, the Hon. Victor Banks, delivered the Government’s Budget Address in the House of Assembly on Tuesday December 7. The budget calls for an expenditure of $117,265,433 to finance the public services in 2005. Of that amount, $93,940, 433 is to meet recurrent expenditure and the remainder of $23,325,000 is to be spent on capital projects. The 2004 budget amounted to $103,237,948.
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L-R: Ministers Kenneth Harrigan, Eric Reid, Victor Banks and CM Fleming
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Mr. Banks chose as the theme of his address: “Anguilla Incorporated, Open for Business.” He explained that it was “about definitive ideas, ambitions, goals, strategies and plans for achieving the total sustainable human development of all Anguillians.”
Of particular note, just about all of the candidates in next year’s General Election were in attendance at the presentation of the Budget Address, having been invited by the Ministry of Finance.
Noting that the election is constitutionally due by March, Mr. Banks reported on the achievements of the Government since taking office in March 2000 and relative to the promises the United Front made in its manifesto. “Mr. Speaker, I will argue, with supporting evidence, that our performance has been excellent and that overall we deserve an “A Grade”.
I will be very deliberate in my presentation and take longer than usual. Governing is a serious business and as we prepare for another General Election we owe it to the people of the island, who are so dear to us, to be open and transparent about all that has happened under the stewardship of the United Front since 2000.
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Opposition Leader Edison Baird, Albert Hughes and Hubert Hughes
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Mr. Banks continued: “Mr. Speaker, the theme of the United Front 2000 Manifesto was ‘the Restoration of Democracy, Good Governance, Political Stability and Economic Prosperity for the Period 2000 to 2005 and Beyond.’ I declare emphatically that we have delivered in every one of these aspects and that based on what we believe to be an “A” Rated Performance we are seeking another 5-year mandate to continue with our efforts to foster the total sustainable human development of all Anguillians.
“In gearing up for the 2005 General Election Mr. Speaker, we have been considering what should be our focus, our priority to 2010. If we are anxious that our ultimate goal is the total sustainable human development of all Anguillians, then the emphasis for this period to 2010 can only mean one thing – focus on the social sector. This is not to suggest that the United Front Government has neglected the social sector since it took office in 2000. To the contrary, Mr. Speaker, expenditure on social services has averaged 36% of total annual recurrent expenditure over the period 2000 - 2004. This represents the largest expenditure on a Ministerial portfolio and points to where the United Front’s priorities lie – sustainable human development.”
Mr. Banks gave a detailed account of Government’s economic and social development achievements over the past five years during part one of his address which lasted just over an hour and a half. Part two, which took a similar length of time, was concerned with the economic, fiscal and other strategic policy objectives for 2005 and beyond.
The budget debate is set for December 14. More information on the budget will be given in next week’s issue of The Anguillian.