PM to lay Estimates of Revenue, Expenditure today

The Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the 2014 budget will be laid in the House of Assembly today, beginning at 9 a.m.{{more}}

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves will present Estimates for 2014, amounting to EC$911.6 million.

Speaking on radio last week, the Prime Minister said of the $911.6 million, $548.7 million is for recurrent expenditure, $105.7 million for debt amortization and 257.1 million for capital expenditure.

“The bulk of that spending will be on economic affairs,” the Prime Minister said.

But he also announced some programmes that will be introduced next year, including $1.5 million which has been allocated to the “Support for Education and Training” programme.

This, according to the Prime Minister, will employ 80 persons, who have graduated from the Community College and university on a short-term basis for a year.

He mentioned a revolving fund for banana and non-banana farmers through the Farmers’ Support Company Limited.

A further $1.5 million will be allocated to the juvenile justice reform project; and the book loan scheme will receive another $1 million for 2014, he said.

Gonsalves, who is also Minister of Finance, said $4.5 million has been allocated for technical and vocational education.

And the fire service is expected to get an upgrade with $2 million going towards this project.

Almost $4 million has been set aside for rural development and $40 million has been allocated to transport and works for road and building reconstruction.

Expected in this project will be $2 million from Petro Caribe for the redevelopment of the Little Tokyo area, the Prime Minister said. (DD)