Budget Day 2019 is July 30 says PM Skerrit

Prime Minister Skerrit arrives at parliament to deliver the National Budget. File photo

Prime Minister  and Minister for Finance Roosevelt Skerrit has announced the date for the presentation of the 2019-2020 National Budget stating that there will be no new taxes added.

 “The date which hase been set for the 2019/2020 budget proposals and budget address is July 30th 2019,” he said. “So this is the budget day and we look forward to the presentation…”

He continued, “We have always managed the affairs of the country in a prudent and responsible manner. We will continue to do the same thing whether it is an election year or not.”

According to Skerrit, his government has always maintain that the prudent and responsible management of the state finances and the fiscal situation of the country is very important and the same discipline will be carried through in the budget.

He went on to say that there will be some very progressive policy announcements which will be articulated in the budget address.

Skerrit indicated that there is always a justification in small economies like Dominica for additional tax revenue, especially in the Post-Maria situation with regard to the cost of goods and services to the state and the cost of reconstruction.

“We would see a dramatic increase in expenditure, because a large core section of society relies on the state for certain interventions and improvement in lives.”

“The government have been shouldering a very large portion of this burden, but we have always maintained, the government, that we will not see any new taxes being imposed on the people of Dominica in the 2019-2020 budget,” he stated.

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44 Comments

  1. Bring back the kidnapped Dominican parrots
    July 21, 2019

    How can a Prime Minister also be the countries minister of finance in charge of the treasury? What happened to the millions collected from the sale of passports and donations after hurricane maria. A Prime minister should never also be in control of the finances, too much opportunity for the temptation to divert funds into personal overseas bank account. All monies coming into the Dominican treasury for the last 18 years needs to be accounted for, millions of dollars. Remember, none of your damn business statement at a town hall?Before the next election all those millions should be accounted for and foreign bank accounts should be checked for large deposits from nefarious Dominican characters.

  2. Didymus
    July 20, 2019

    man bites dog and Kid on the block. well let me say it like this. I have seen many times in my life time that people hates persons for being outstanding and jealous of the person because they cannot stand in the person’s shoe and scared that the person may steal their position. these guys I have read their post for years and I have never seen them say skerrit was wrong about anything they defend him every time. but they give Linton a hard time for Just being a human. I believe one of these guys is skerrit himself in disguise and one is another minister.no one can defend a person so forcefully unless you are the person himself or you are with the person 24 hours a day.

    • Joseph John
      July 21, 2019

      So who ” jealous and envy and committing afelony” (Sparrow’s calypso). Who are the haters of the Dr Dr achievements. Are you trying to say that Skerrit wants to trade places with Linton. That’s not even funny. The PM of Dominica wants to trade places with the gate crasher Lean-ox Linscam-ton Wow!

  3. viewsexpressed
    July 20, 2019

    Skerrit says, which is a damn lie that:, “We have always managed the affairs of the country in a prudent and responsible manner. We will continue to do the same thing whether it is an election year or not.”
    Sherrit, this is a damn lie. What about the abuse of states funds where you created and operated the Red Clinic at your office, where these poor and unemployed people that you created, you now used and abused states funds offered to them whereas you and try failed corrupt Labour government failed to create jobs for them. Therefore Skerrit has been fleecing our limited economy just that it fits your immaturity and lack of Government processes to gain money for the state. You have killed or cause to kill agriculture. No more bananas, limes, provisions being exported years ago. What has happened where and why have you failed? Because you have been distracted with your comical associates and failed to invest in the economy of our Dominica. Damn failure you are. Skerrit get lost. Go

  4. For Love Of Country
    July 20, 2019

    A self-defeatist so called PM Skerrit – this is exactly why with such proclamation :

    “We would see a dramatic increase in expenditure, because a large core section of society relies on the state for certain interventions and improvement in lives.”

    “The government have been shouldering a very large portion of this burden…

    Being the Private Sector’s main competitor means you’re doomed to failure.

  5. Lin clown
    July 19, 2019

    These UWP are so uneducated they do not know SKERRIT brought CLEAR HARBOUR to Dominica,834 workers.SKERRIT created NEP in 2013 3,400 workers.He created the Yes We Care 243 people in volved.He now has over 2,000 people at the college.He has employed more Policemen,more Teachers,more Nurses.We are importing construction workers.These lazy,lying,uneducated bunch of UWP IDIOTS,just sit around and say NOTHING IS HAPPENING.Dominicans are too smart to vote UWP

    • Make Dominica wealthy again
      July 21, 2019

      You are the uneducated one madam. A responsible government does not seek to be the employer for everybody. A responsible government encourages private people to open businesses and it provides support for those with existing business. The businesses employ most of the people. The people pay taxes. Taxes pay for the infrastructure maintenance and the public service. Our people are too smart to vote DLP.
      Waste of time DLP must Go!

    • viewsexpressed
      July 22, 2019

      Lin is a big Clown in denial and now writes rubbish. I know longer read he babyish comments, it does nothing to me e, neither the reading public.
      Difficult fr some boom-boom flies to be objective, they put their bind loyalty to a fake failed politician rather than to their ailing country, reduced to poverty after 29 failed years of this failed Skerrit and useless incompetent 19 worthless government minsters. Just Talk and more talk, no development in our country, Tis budget is gonna d absolutely nothing for Dominica and its people It is the same led sing along corrupted budget and Labour we have in Dominica. Skerrit must go and his failed 19 worthless Cabinet, must remain locked in the cabinet and we will throw the key away. Fed up of seeing the ruins of our Dominica by this Skerrit failed Labour government. Go away, yo a, please go, you have failed. We await incoming Hon. Lennox Linton and highly Professional UWP Team. We need Skerrit out, he failed killed our economy.

  6. On The Way To Heaven
    July 19, 2019

    No new taxes but perhaps an increase in taxes?

  7. Beg no more
    July 19, 2019

    My people, this relying on the state is a new concept for us. It is a sinister plan created and is being carried out by this DLP government. DLP WANTS US TO BEG. That’s why they have stiffled every avenue we had of becoming independently wealthy. Poor man can’t complain and he must go along with whatever the man with the money💼 wants. Skerrit’s plan is to be in total control of this island and poor people are easily controlled. DLP is replacing good paying work with those that pay very little, so we will keep going back to them for handouts to survive. We have to stop ✋ this! Vote them out! Let’s take back our country! UWP will encourage us to work for ourselves, to become as wealthy as we want to be. Those of you under 20 years don’t know this, but we (Dominicans) used to be wealthy, very wealthy. Banana farmers were buying new vehicles in 💸. Don’t believe me? Ask them yourself. They are in their 60s and 70s now. It wasn’t that long ago. People wake up!

  8. Thibaud One
    July 18, 2019

    Smart and sharp. Keep doing a good job for Dominica. You are endorsed by us.

  9. July 18, 2019

    You need to mention the international airport in the budget

    • Joseph John
      July 21, 2019

      Yes please give details and time frames. My plans and that of several Dominicans call for a proper airport. Not the airstrips we now use. As far as we are concerned what we have is not a modern international standard airport.
      We need to break ground November 5th or in the week ending the 9th (2019) to make an impact on visitors. The plans should be displayed at both the arrival and departure lounge by end of October (2019)

  10. Dave Henry
    July 18, 2019

    Please we need to hear the international airport in the budget.

  11. July 18, 2019

    Smart and Sharp. Has been doing a good job for all of Dominica. Keep working for all of Dominica.

  12. Remember Venezuela
    July 18, 2019

    Budget day what? So all you really depending on the nonesense of Roosevelt Skerrit? Will Skerrit answer questions? Will he tell Dominican where he getting money from? Will he account for the hundreds of thousands of dollars he redistributing? I have never seen such madness in my life, no never! But I hope all you remember Venezuela and where they are today

    • Joseph John
      July 21, 2019

      So a Budget presentation is madness? Wow ! I hope Linton did not tell you say dat.

  13. Boom
    July 18, 2019

    Why can’t this govt be more responsible. Since July 1st the new fiscal year started and no budget was in place. All other countries have had their debates and budgets approved before fiscal year end. Every year people have to go without payments cuz no cheques can be issued without budget being approved. Do better man….

    • Joseph John
      July 21, 2019

      What years did people go without payment ? If this ever happened it did not hit the news media. This statement is not credible. Even if the budget session was delayed for any length of time the government would still not shut down. This is not the USA where people do not get paid when there is a shut down if there is no budget approval.

  14. Plain and Simple
    July 18, 2019

    “…because a large core section of society relies on the state for certain interventions and improvement in lives”

    That’s the monster you created sir, plain and simple

  15. Anonymous
    July 18, 2019

    How comes the Pm didn’t give the budget amount this time. :mrgreen:

  16. Man bites dogs
    July 18, 2019

    Ooh boy Prime minister Dr Skerrit will be having those so-called Workers puppets and followers squealing like wild animals tonight boy way mama our international airport is on its way now I can’t wait to see black Adder face.

    • Joseph John
      July 21, 2019

      You mean black mamba. It looks dead until you are to close then it strikes. It is the most traitorous animal on earth. It will also eat its fellow mamba even its own offspring.

    • viewsexpressed
      July 22, 2019

      We need failed, immature Skerrit out and his worthless, hopeless failed fake, corrupted Labour Government. they must Go and we need them out for decent government. Another five years f this clown and his failed Labour government will kill our nature isle more and more. they have failed to bring development to Dominica, only have brought in some blind irrelevant scouts to shout all day and bought that “We love our damn PM, who has failed us big time with us useless 19 worthless, and blind loyalists on social media writing crap daily and has brought Skerrit much deeper to the Political corrupted Abys.

  17. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    July 18, 2019

    Roosevelt your rhetoric; there will be no new taxes is laughable: it is  your joke to humor only you!

    When taxes are imposed, it has to be on something; most likely on export and import commodities, or on payroll earnings.

     Whereas payroll taxes are paid as you earn; (the more you are paid its the more payroll taxes paid), and whereas 98% of Dominicans are unemployed, there is very little to come from payroll taxes; nothing to export, very little imports, your destiny, your hope is the sale of passports.

    This is election time, in 2020; I doubt there will be another annual budget prior to election; if you are serious about building an International Airport; you need to have the total cost in this which might be your final budget.

    Unless you have a budget for that in this budget, don’t go out and lie.

    You cannot build an International Airport unless you budget for the same!

    So, let’s know how are you budgeting for the INT Airport.

    • Joseph John
      July 21, 2019

      A Budget is an estimation. If he does not have figures no big deal, there is supplementary estimates to deal with this. Because this type of infrastructure will take a few years he can obtain budget approval for expenditure for one year in the first instance and revise the figures in consecutive years. Then this is Capital Expenditure as compared to Recurrent Expenditure.
      I am sure you know what I mean, but many of the people reading/posting on DNO just do not take time to inform themselves of the dynamics of a Budget.
      It is the government (in power) budget and with or without amendment it will pass in the house where the Government (the Cabinet) holds a majority.
      The opposition can find a way for inputs, but the present opposition do not have a clue to the working of the House of Assembly.
      The PM should give us some update because the majority of progressive thinking Dominicans are in support of this necessary venture.

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        July 23, 2019

        John are you kidding me, or are you kidding yourself? 

        Maybe you are an accountant; I am not; so perhaps we should keep it simply leave the different forms of expenditures out.

        A budget is a financial plan for a defined period, often one year; it may also include planned sales volumes and revenues, resource quantities, costs and expenses, assets, liabilities and cash flows.

        A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods. In other terms, a budget is an organizational plan stated in monetary terms.

        So, whereas one speaks of an International Airport; if in truth the proposed will be built in the fiscal year 2019/2020, somewhere in this budget there should be a proposed amount set aside to construct the same.

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        July 23, 2019

        In Conclusion:
        The fiscal year (FY, or financial year) is usually the primary accounting year for a company, organization, or government!

        The fiscal year serves as the organizing basis for economic measurement and financial reporting.

        In most countries, moreover, the fiscal year also serves as a basis for budgeting and planning.

  18. Ibo france
    July 18, 2019

    This is going to be a Santa Claus budget with many fantastic promises. Promises galore that will never materialize. How do I know? The past twenty years is irrefutable confirmation. The international airport, geothermal energy, replacement for RUSM, enhancement and beautification of Roseau, etcetera, is sufficient proof. The last twenty (20) years has been dreadful under the DLP stewardship, an additional five (5) years will be HELL to pay. This scandal plagued, mindless, corrupt DLP regime has to go.

    • KID ON THE BLOCK
      July 20, 2019

      Yes Ibo MALAPROP France, you really do know of the sufficient proof of the great things that are happening and thanks for listing some of them. The International Airport, Geothermal Energy, replacement for RUSM, Enhancement and Beautification of Roseau, etcetera,. So happy your begin to open your eyes and ears that you could make such a pronouncement. Wonder why you didn’t mention the housing project, the improvement of roads, the New Hospital. Did you forget?

      • Ibo france
        July 21, 2019

        KID, as hard as you often try to glorify Skerrit and his gangbangers, the reality is, the country is more divided, more impoverished, more corrupt, more crime ridden, more beggarly, more immoral, more unethical, more barren than ever before. It is the least advanced, shows the worst leadership, worst economy, worst infrastructural development, worst wages and salaries, worst corrupt practices. In the sub region, one often hears of positive happenings in Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis and the others. Dominica is a ghost island, nothing of real worth happens to catch the eyes and ears of the outside world. It’s a burning shame that an island with so much potential ( human and natural resources) lies at the bottom, floor level, in all relevant economic and developmental indices. A colossal shame.

      • Joseph John
        July 21, 2019

        @ Kid,….Some people have selective memory. I wonder if they know the difference between ‘promises’ and the financial authority to spend to turn those ‘promises’ into reality.

  19. LaPlaine Observer
    July 18, 2019

    I am confused. The PM is saying there will be no new taxes, but he’s also saying that there is justification for additional tax revenue. Which one will you present to parliament? Folks let’s remember this quote ” no new taxes.” Laborrats have a very short memory span, but not the rest of us who pay attention to his lies.

    • Man bites dogs
      July 20, 2019

      Observer, It would be a good idea if guys like you Linton, Ibo France, that two heads snake should learn to read and understand the English language or maybe it’s too smooth to understand? My good friend Francisco, there will be no new taxes paye the lot unlike Linton, every words Dr Pm Skerrit says is gospel true to the book Linton is a liar conman and must never be trusted he can’t even keep his words when he says trust me run and keep on running!!!

      • Ibo france
        July 21, 2019

        Your very limited knowledge and understanding of even the simplest of things makes one thinks that most of your brain cells are not operational, they are defective. 99.9% of your brain cells are permanently on vacation, they just don’t work. I genuinely forgive you for your irrational, bizarre and belligerent behavior. You are pitiful case.

      • Joseph John
        July 21, 2019

        @Man,…..No NEW taxes mean just that. It also mean no increase in taxes.
        In an election year it would not be normal /prudent for a government to increase or impose NEW TAXES.
        If these opposition gang bangers had one iota of common sense they would wait and see. If the PM does not deliver then they will have proof for the first time that the PM is a liar. They make all kinds of fake accusations but cannot prove misbehavior, but all kinds of opposition misbehavior have been documented for future evidence. The biggest one of all was the diplomatic blunder of the Heads of Government gate crashing in Guyana by the 3 blind mice.

  20. Bring back the kidnapped Dominican parrots
    July 18, 2019

    Speaking about “budget” all foreign bank accounts of nefarious characters on island need to be checked for large donations/deposits of Dominican treasury money by people not entitled to such funds.

  21. AA
    July 18, 2019

    After being late by over a month this budget has no substance in it. This rush rush thing that is being proposed is just election gimmick. I await the supplementary estimates that you all have chuck up doing your politicking with the country’s resources

    • Joseph John
      July 21, 2019

      @AA,….You can see what is in the budget before presentation. Wow ! you have great vision. You could make a killing on Wall Street. How many lotto have you played and won. You must be at least a thousandaire by now on your way to be a millionaire. Cool.

  22. Selldemout
    July 18, 2019

    Roosevelt boy you have taken people’s independence from them with the hand out economy you have created.
    Let me give you a classic example. Consider a young man let’s say named Brandon let us say from portsmoith who worked at Ross and was all over the country referring to you and your administration as thieves etc. Today Ross has left under your watch and today Brandon has no choice than to wear red and sing your praises in order to earn a living. Sad isn’t it?

  23. KID ON THE BLOCK
    July 18, 2019

    Athie, One hopes that answers your question you asked Matt about BUDGET 2019/2020.

    • Ibo france
      July 21, 2019

      Only people like you, with a vacuum between the ears, will support the most corrupt, thoughtless, ridiculous administration in the storied history of Dominica. What a daft human being, what a worthless government. Darkness attacks creatures of the dark. Both you, KID, and the present government operate as nocturnal creatures . Your souls are eternally dark.

  24. Frank N Stein
    July 18, 2019

    more and more rubbish to come.
    “The government have been shouldering a very large portion of this burden, but we have always maintained, the government, that we will not see any new taxes being imposed on the people of Dominica in the 2019-2020 budget,” he stated.

    This statement above says it all, this govt is bankrupt of ideas. After 20yrs this is what the budget has to offer, dependency and mendicancy. Lord help us!

    • Man bites dogs
      July 20, 2019

      I am not surprise just waiting to hear all the crap Lennox Linton, will be coming up with! The guy is a bloody idiot dancing and showing off his kitchen on Facebook for all to see how nice it is and tomorrow he will be begging for money get a proper job bin man or road sweeping lazy useless so n so.

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