At last the efforts of the new Government of Anguilla and its technical team in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development have successfully resulted in the hammering out of the 2010 budget before the end of April as required by law. Given the overwhelming fiscal difficulties, the uncertainties of a quick and sustainable recovery and the obvious need for new taxes in the absence of a good flow of revenue, the coming presentation of a budget, on Friday, is certainty good and welcome news.

As the Permanent Secretary, Finance, Mrs. Kathleen Rogers, has pointed out, this will be the first time that a deficit budget will be presented in the Anguilla House of Assembly, with the shortfall being some 26.3 million dollars. While this is still a big gap and may impact much on expenditure if the situation does not significantly improve, it is admittedly a much shrunken margin than two months ago when the gap between projected recurrent revenue and recurrent expenditure was between 80 and 90 million dollars.

What the narrowing of the gap demonstrates, is that there was obviously a lot of hard work and headache to juggle the figures and to come up with some possible revenue sources to bolster the estimates of revenue and measures to streamline expenditure. Note must also be taken of the fact, and good fortune, that a European Development Fund Grant of 23.5 million dollars has become available for budgetary support, thus making the figures appear more encouraging.

Our political leaders may share some of the commendation for the 2010 budget in which they can manage the public services and their governing agenda. However, a great portion of the praise must be given to the ever hard-working technical personnel in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development whose expertise is so necessary to the functioning of Government and the workings of its finances. One could not but admire the skill and professionalism of Permanent Secretaries Dr. Aidan Harrigan and Kathleen Rogers, and the Director of Inland Revenue, Gecheal Richardson, as they presented their reports at the public consultation on Tuesday evening, albeit they were delivering the findings of two consultants from Oxford Policy Management in the United Kingdom. It was their excellent analysis of the highly technical studies and their sharp deliveries that came into focus and appreciation. They have also been involved in crafting the budget as well.

Not to be left out, the Chief Minister, with the support of his ministerial team, should also be given some recognition for setting about to ensure that a budget was prepared even at this late time of the year and, according to Mr. Hughes, to have avoided some of the recommended taxes while allowing others. There is a need for the citizenry of the island to understand the case for taxation but, as the previous Government also recognised, it is difficult to impose taxes when the economy is in shambles. It is noteworthy that the tax consultant stated in his report that Anguilla was already heavily taxed even more than some islands in the region. It is also good to hear that the Government has not been inclined to cut the numbers of the civil service or to close some departments. To do so, would be an indication of panic and hopelessness and, as the Chief Minister stated, may lead to social disorder.

The 2010 budget is a critical and hard-fixed one and all its players, especially the technocrats, must be commended for putting it together.

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