Wednesday, April 16 2008

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Mariano Browne...

THE CONTENTS of the 2008/2009 Budget will not be influenced in any way by the timing of this year’s local government election. This was the word yesterday from Minister in the Ministry of Finance Mariano Browne.

The local government election is constitutionally due by July 12 but the Representation of the People’s Act allows a three-month period after that date in which the election can be held.

This means October 12 is the deadline for the election. The budget must be passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate by October 31 under the law.

Asked whether this year’s budget would be presented before the election is held, Browne stated: “The budget will follow the law and the time table associated therewith.”

Last year’s Budget was presented on August 20 by then Finance Minister, Prime Minister Patrick Manning, due to the general election which was held on November 5. This year’s budget will be presented by Finance Minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira.

Since the PNM returned to office in 2002, all of its budgets have focused heavily on education, health, housing, national security, infrastructure and the social sector. There was a special emphasis on agriculture in the 2007/2008 budget because of public concern about rising food prices.

Sources said while it was difficult to predict what the contents of the budget will be at this stage, it was safe to say that emphasis will be placed on all areas addressed in the previous budgets, with adjustments being made depending on the circumstances.

The Opposition has slammed all budgets since 2002 as being laden with recycled promises made to the population which the Government has failed to keep.