Says Budget Discussions should be About Educating the Population and Not About Incorrect Statements Made For Popularity’s Sake
The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams thanked the Members of Parliament who voted for the passing of the Budget 2014 and clarified points specifically related to the Budget as it was passed: "I would like to specifically thank all of the Factions in Parliament that saw the importance in having the Budget approved so that we can continue with the Governing of the Country. Most Factions in Parliament understood that, while it is necessary for Parliament to deliberate on the Budget we, as a Country were facing a deadline. A Budget is a management tool, a tool by which you govern and the later the Budget is ratified the less effective that tool is as was the case in 2013. That is why we wanted to get the 2013 Budget out of the way and focus on the 2014 Budget.
"The CFT gave Government until the 16th of January to have the Budget approved. Last Thursday, as the Budget was being discussed in Parliament, the CFT already sent a letter to the Kingdom Government saying that Parliament was in the process of approving the Budget and it was expected to be approved later that day. If that would not have been the case the CFT would then have given an advice to give an instruction. Perhaps this could have been a cut in personnel or a cut in salaries," clarified the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister also highlighted that it was through cooperation and mutual understanding of the importance to have the Budget passed on time. "While there was an MP who referred to the Budget as a CFT Budget, this is not the case. There were some discussions but that can be considered politics. During the Parliamentary discussions I was kindly telling the Members of Parliament for us to use the opportunity of the debate on the Budget to educate our people. Let us not say things that are incorrect because they are the popular thing to say. Let us be honest with our people. If you want to provide the people of St. Maarten let us explain what is being done and give the information," stressed the Prime Minister.
The PM concluded by informing the population that the next step with regards to the Budget is that it now has to be signed off by the Governor and has to be sent for final review to the CFT: "Although we have congratulated each other last night that Parliament approved the Budget it is not yet ready however; the Governor, since the Budget is a National Ordinance, has to go to the CFT to make sure that we stick within the norms and laws Governing the Budget. Once we get the final nod we would have created an opening to look for loans to borrow and to invest in capital projects. So that if tomorrow we want to do a total revamp or rehabilitation of our road network for example, we can start to look at moving forward with this," concluded the Prime Minister.