The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, Climate Resilience, and Social Security has received the largest allocation of the recurrent estimates totalling $271.9 million, or 42.5 percent.
This was disclosed by Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre during the presentation of the 2023-2024 National Budget on Tuesday.
“Of this amount, $106.6 million is allocated to debt service, while $45.1 million is appropriated for retirement benefits,” he said.
Additionally, he said the non-contributory pension, which now extends to individuals 65 years and over, and insurance premiums for Earthquake, Tropical Cyclone, and Excess Rainfall perils with the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) are also included in the allocation for the Ministry of Finance.
Dr. McIntyre said the second largest budgetary allocation of $73.0 million, or 11.4 percent, is for the operation of the Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Social Services.
“The Ministry of Education, Human Resource Planning, Vocational Training, and National Excellence will receive the third highest allocation of $71.5 million or 11.2 percent,” he stated.
He continued, “An amount of $59.0 million, or 9.2 percent of the total recurrent expenditure, is allocated to the Ministry of National Security and Legal Affairs.”
He added, “The Ministry of Public Works and the Digital Economy will receive $55.0 million, or 8.6 percent of the total recurrent expenditure.”
Moreover, he said although the recurrent budget for this Fiscal Year has been reduced, all of government’s social programmes which are currently in place to support the vulnerable, will continue—including the Public Assistance Programme, the Foster Care programme, the care of our juveniles who come in conflict with the law, our Centenarian programme, the 65 and over Non-Contributory Pension Programme and of course, the ‘Yes We Care’ Programme.
“We will also continue to support the non-government institutions which care for our most vulnerable, particularly, senior citizens, and begin implementing the recommendations made by the recently appointed National Advisory Board for Health and Social Care of the Elderly, to improve their standard of care and quality of life,” Dr. McIntyre noted.
In April this year, the government passed into law five bills to protect the rights of women, children and the elderly, and victims of domestic violence, and to improve their access to justice. They allow the vulnerable to seek redress on a number of matters, guide the provision of childcare services, facilitate proper administration of matters related to domestic violence and enhance the delivery of justice, for the protection of children.
Meanwhile, he said the government continues to address the housing needs of Dominicans, under various programmes.
Dr. McIntyre revealed that currently, 344 homes are under construction, this includes 256 housing units in eleven communities, namely, Grand Bay, Pointe Mitchel, Wesley, Scotts Head, Paix Bouche, Vieille Case, Penville, Woodford Hill, Canefield, Trafalgar, and Eggleston; and 88 houses in other communities. We will construct another 327 houses this Fiscal Year, including the relocation and resettlement of some residents of Good Hope, San Sauveur, Petite Soufriere, and Campbell; “Under the Future Housing Development Programme, 50 homes will be constructed in Warner and Cotton Hill, to help more young professionals, the youth, and employees in the public and private sector to realize their dreams of owning a home.”
He went on to state that an impediment for many people, especially young people, who would like to build their own homes is the affordability of land. That has already been put in place.
“Government has already implemented measures to help reduce those costs, particularly as relates to land transfer fees. Government will go further now and will make available at least 500 lots for sale in various communities, at reduced cost, to public officers,” he revealed. “This, along with the favourable rates provided for public officers at the Government Housing Loans Board will significantly enhance the prospects for public officers to own their own homes.”
He also reminded young people, 40 years and under, preparing to own their first home of the added benefit of a $10,000 housing grant to assist with their ambitious undertaking.
This Programme started during the 2020/2021 Fiscal Year and to date, government has disbursed grants amounting to $1.9 million to 200 applicants. An additional $1.5 million has been allocated to continue this programme in this Fiscal Year.
If the majority of Dominicans are not interested in electoral reform and you are,who is the Jacka?
@ Admin…you couldn’t at least give us the amount “promised” to the Ministry of Agriculture?..
It used to be “CBI or die”..and we all know how that working out..
Now we get some “awards” for our tourism..let’s see how much that’s going to help us..
Agriculture isn’t “sexy and pretty” but that doesn’t mean that it should be treated like the “unwanted bastard child”..
We keep paying lip service to “food security” but we all know by now that if not for foreign imported labour we would most likely be importing green and ripe “fig”..
I am surprised DNO has not posted anything about US citizens requiring VISAS to travel to European countries including the UK starting in 2024.Dale Dangleben,Gabriel Christian,Emanuel Finn and all the other UWP American-Dominicans will have to get a VISA to travel to 30 European countries.Waiting to hear from q95 and supporters of UWP.
What is the value of your remarks? $0.00
Dominica is among the ten (10) most indebted countries in the world per capita. The country has racked up generational debt that will expand into not one, nor two, but many generations yet unborn.
By the way, what is the accurate figure of the national debt? What is being done to release this albatross from the necks of our children? Not as much as a cursory mention.
This is what is most concerning about this humongous debt. The revenue for development in health, education, national security and other crucial sectors of economy has to be used to pay down these gargantuan arrears.
One day soon those jack a bats will tell us why they are so afraid of the phrase “electoral reform”
I suspect that must be giving them mal vat and nightmares.
So that’s expenditure covered. Where’s the income coming from?
Where is the income coming from you asked. Of course, passport sales. Ridiculous!
Leonardo da Vinci is no match for the Finance Minister. Dr. Irving McIntyre is the best artist ever. He paints a picture of utopia when everyone knows that the vast majority of resident Dominicans are living in dystopia.
Most Dominicans can ill-afford one good meal per day. They suffer from explosive bouts of painful flatulence. They have no disposal income. The present life of the average Dominican is nightmarish.
This administration is a laboratory /test tube of lies and corrupt practices.
He tells us the allocations to various ministries but how about the allocation to the office of the PM or Blackmoore’s ministry? How about the income? How much was received by the CBI? You see that’s how they operate. They don’t talk about things that could be controversial they don’t talk about things that raises questions. Skerrit said it a few times before, none of your damn business. But let me tell you Mister, it is our business, it is our money and it is only your business because we elected you. I guess, this is gonna be the last period that it is your business. You just can’t be trusted.
The local news outlets should put Dr. McIntyre and the deceitful administration on blast for lying by omission. The minister conveniently left out specific things to avoid the ire of the public.
DNO will never write a critical analysis of the budget. All it does is to give wings to the misinformation that is being touted by this corrupt regime that is allergic to truth.