BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (CUOPM) – Presentation of the 2013 Budget to the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly which was scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed.
Disclosure of this came from St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas in a nationwide radio and television address on Monday night.
He said that the presentation of the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget had long been scheduled for December 11, 2012.
" Indeed, this morning (Monday) Cabinet met in order to affirm and solidify our support, as a Cabinet, for this important Budget, the mechanism via which our hospitals are funded, our energy imports made possible, our old-age pensioners and social safety-net programs supported, and our civil servants and auxiliary workers paid. However, there are two members who never arrived at this morning’s Cabinet meeting. Nor did they attend at an earlier December 5, 2012 Cabinet meeting at which the Budget was also discussed," said Dr. Douglas.
The added that the 2013 Budget is of utmost importance to the well-being of this nation.
"So is the unanimous participation of all members of Cabinet in our pre-Budget sessions so as to ensure that this vital legislative initiative, on which so much and so many in our nation depend, does indeed become law. Up to 7:30 p.m. this evening (Monday), the members have not arrived to Cabinet; as a consequence we have taken a decision to postpone the Budget Presentation originally scheduled for Tuesday December 11, 2012," said Dr. Douglas.
"I wish to stress that all Cabinet members, save two, were present at today’s pre-Budget Cabinet meeting. And all who attended have made clear their complete support for the Government’s 2013 Budget. Please be advised that once all Cabinet members are able to meet as one body, without any absence, in order to clarify each Member’s position on our Government’s 2013 Budget, a new date will be announced for my Government’s Budget Presentation, without delay," said the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.