Shorts from parliament

• LIAT incurred a loss of XCD $57 million in 2015, $17 million of which was from the disposal of the final Dash 8 and $10 million in severance payments. At the end of August 2016, LIAT had chalked up an operating net profit of $5 million. At the end of 2016, the company is forecast to incur a loss of $9.2 million, which was reduced from the previous projection of $23.6 million.

Prime Minister on fiscal out-turn at the end of September 2016

• A deficit of $3.6 million was recorded in the overall balance at the end of September 2016, compared to $27.2 million deficit for the same period last year.

• There was an increase in the total revenue on grants, moving from $402.34 million at the end of September 2015, to $428.23 at the end of September 2016.

• Current revenue also saw an increase of 9.3 million, moving from $374.9 million at the end of September 2015, to $409.64 million.

• At the end of September 2016 capital revenue on grants was $18.59 million, compared to $27.5 million for the same period last year.

• There was less than one per cent increase in the total expenditure at $431.99 million at the end of September 2016, compared to $429.37 million at the end of September 2015.

• The current expenditure, however, saw a 2.7 per cent increase, from 374.95 million at the end of September 2015 to $385.19 million for the same period in 2016.

• The capital expenditure was recorded at $46.79 million at the end of September 2016, compared to $54.4 million for the same period in 2015.

• Current balance increased from a deficit of 0.05 million at the end September 2015, to $24.44 million at the end of September 2016.

• Primary balance was recorded at $26.82 million at the end of September 2016, compared to $4.6 million at the same time last year.

RUBIS has scheduled a testing and commissioning of the facility and equipment for November 15, 2016 and the test would include refuelling of aircraft.

There is still some work to be done on the pipeline and buoys for the fuel tankers, which is estimated to take about two months to complete. This remaining work, however, will not affect the fuel facility’s ability to supply aircraft.

In the event that this extra work is not completed in time for the commencement of the operation of the Argyle International Airport, RUBIS has made prior arrangements for fuel to be supplied to the fuel storage facility, which would enable them to provide fuel to any size aircraft which lands at the airport.

Saboto Caesar on banana rehabilitation

• The banana services unit has set itself a target of planting 400 acres of banana a year over the Unity Labour Party’s (ULP) fourth term in office.

Some 60,000 plants were distributed by the tissue culture lab, 80 per cent of which went to the St Vincent Cocoa Company (SVGCC).

The 60,000 plants is the loose equivalent of about 100 acres of land plants.

• The banana rehabilitation process was negatively impacted by four major issues this year, one being the prolonged dry spell experienced on the island in earlier in the year.

The plants which were distributed by the Tissue Culture Lab were observed to have a form of dwarfism.

Also some 80 acres was lost during the passage of Tropical Storm Matthew. Of the 80 acres, District Six, which includes: Orange Hill, Tourama and Lot 14, recorded a loss of 18 acres, which is the greatest loss for one area.

Additionally the Ministry has instituted .25 cent charge on banana plants, after it was discovered that farmers, who were previously getting the banana plants for free, had not been planting them.

• Winfresh has made the move to become more involved in the production side of bananas and they have targeted 400 acres for planting bananas in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

• The SVG Cocoa Company (SVGCC) is aiming to plant some 2,000 acres of cocoa and would be using bananas as shade crops.

• The Shenton Coffee Group, which has a target of planting 1,000 acres of coffee, would, like the SVGCC, be using bananas as their shade crop.