2025 Estimates and Budget to be presented early January

The 2025 Estimates and Appropriation Bill (Budget), will be presented and debated in Parliament very early in the New Year. Minister of Finance, Camillo Gonsalves, will lay the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditures in the House of Assembly on January 3, 2025, to be followed by his delivery of the 2025 National Budget on Monday, January 6, 2025.

This was announced by Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves when he spoke on NBC’s Face to Face programme on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.

Gonsalves, who once held the Finance portfolio, explained that the presentation of the Estimates was shifted to January, 2025, because of the numerous events which are taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) in December.

Debate on the Estimates generally takes one day, while debate on the 2025 Appropriation Bill is expected to begin on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 with the response from Opposition Leader, Dr Godwin Friday.

Debate is anticipated to run for an entire week.

The Constitution states that the Estimates should be presented no later than January, 30 for the particular fiscal year. The 2024 National Budget was presented by the Minister of Finance on Monday, January 8, 2024. The $1.62 billion package comprised $835.4 million in Expenditure and $810.9 million in Revenue. The Budget Address on January 6, will be preceded by the Governor General’s presentation of the Throne Speech.