Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Roosevelt Skerrit is expected to present the 2017/2018 budget when parliament convenes on Thursday morning.
The budget amounts to more than EC$854-million in recurrent and capital expenditure. This is an increase of EC$173 million over 2016/2017.
Skerrit said the budget will be addressing a number of critical issues.
“We met with many stakeholders, many many stakeholders and we are committing in the budget some $15-million for the manufacturers,” he said. “Last year we gave the hoteliers $15-million, we gave the farmers $10-million. This year we are putting $15-million for the manufacturers.”
He stated that in this year’s budget, additional funds will be placed for small business development.
“To build a culture of entrepreneurship in Dominica,” he noted. “We will also be putting an additional amount for training and we will be targeting a number of areas of our country.”
Skerrrit said one of the critical areas is the training of teachers and parents on how to provide for children with special needs.
“There are many children in Dominica with special needs who are not at school because the schools are not catering for them,” he stated. “And you have parents who have to stay home to take care of their children because they cannot go to school. And I think in the second decade of the 21st century we have to come of age in how we treat and regard children with disabilities in our country.”
The Prime Minister said the country must also focus on the human aspect of development.
“We can talk about road and bridges but we must also focus on the human aspect of development of our country,” he noted.
He will also provide an explanation for the increases and decreases in allocations as well as provide some important performance indicators and the contribution by revenue generated from the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CBI) will feature prominently.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Alix Boyd-Knights, explained that there are categories of invitees for the event.
“We have those from the business and private sector communities and so on that are placed downstairs in the chamber,” she said. “The Permanent Secretaries and other government officials are seated downstairs. Then we have guests from the public that are seated upstairs and of course as you know we try to encourage the women to wear hats, the ladies to wear their hats.”
She stated that there is a dress code that legislated for those who plan to attend.
“It is not a figment of my imagination,” she noted.
Boyd-Knights noted that media personnel from ‘bona fide’ media houses who have been accredited to the House of Assembly will be seated down stairs.
I am pleased to see that finally children with special needs are considered to be part of this budget. This to me is a landmark budget. Children with disabilities are part of the population of Dominica and if provided with the necessary services and assistance they can contribute to the development of the country. I am hoping that with this budget we can now develop a national policy that will ensure the protection of the rights of children and persons with disabilities as outlined in the UN Convention of the rights of persons with disabilities. I am calling all stakeholders with vested interest and passion for children with special needs to work together and develop a comprehensive plan for children with special needs including an effective transition plan from day care-college and the workforce.Honorable Prime Minister on behalf of the Management , Parents and Students of the Achievement Learning Center we say
Wait still there it shall stay in black and whitee
After 17 years of total and absolute failure by a lazy, inept, dunce, idiotic set , I have absolutely no hope that there will be anything for the ordinary man to cheer about, IN THIS BUDGET. .I have given up on these DLP’S ‘square pegs in round holes’. They are deceptive and mischievous, and I am happy that the public are undressing them in broad daylight.
I will keenly listen to Honourable Linton’s response, because I know that the brains of this parliament resides in the members of the opposition.
SKERRIT MUST GO
SKERRIT MUST GO
SKERRIT MUST GO NOW
Idiot! Stop repeating your rubbish and examine the budget. You have not heard or seen it yet but you already rubbish it. Educate yourself, your’e too ignorant.
@The Guard Rest assured that I SHALL,examine it after the presentation..Guess you had it at your home long ago.
SKERRIT MUST GO
SKERRIT MUST GO
SKERRIT MUST GO NOW
Th Guard I think you need to take a good look in the and to your surprise you will see your the ignorant one. There is nothing exciting in this budget. all rubbish further tell you Leader to begin speaking the truth give the truthful statistical figures of Dominica.
I think the idiot U refer to is more well informed than U are, and he is in D/ca so he can see all that is taking place in D/ca so he speaks the truth, unless UR. 2 eyes is in UR. LOUREL if so then get up on it and stop the corruption that is very apparent in the country Luv U!
Pfft come out dere with your ladies wearing hats crap, We are in 2017 not 1917. As long as someone is dressed appropriately there should be no problem.