: The Ministry of Finance will hold its annual national consultation on the budget on Wednesday November 5th, 2008 at the Grenada Trade Centre, under the theme: “Strengthening Economic Management and Building a Platform for Sustained Prosperity.” The day’s exercise will commence at 9:00 am with an official opening ceremony which will be broadcast live on local radio stations. Prime Minister, Hon. Tillman Thomas and the Minister of Finance, Hon. Nazim Burke, will both address the participants at the opening ceremony. There will also be a presentation on the economy and the 2009 Budget Framework. The main focus of the exercise will be the working groups’ session where participants will discuss and analyse ideas and projects that can be incorporated in the 2009 Budget. The areas to be given priority are:  Improving the Business Climate;  Reducing Cost of Living;  Revitalising Agriculture and Fisheries;  Economic Management and Waste Reduction;  Better Health Care; and  Education and Human Resource Development There will also be working groups on Tourism and on Youth Development. This national consultation is the culmination of a series of consultations which commenced in early October and included meetings with line ministries and government departments, teachers, the business community and the general public at the constituency level. The conclusions from these consultations will be summarized and presented to Cabinet for consideration in the 2009 Budget. Upon Cabinet’s recommendation, Government will then finalise preparations for the 2009 Budget which will be presented to Parliament during the first half of December 2008. Invitations to the national consultations have been sent to a wide cross section of stakeholders and the response so far has been extremely positive. However, persons who are interested in attending the consultation should contact the Ministry of Finance, no later than 12:00 noon on Tuesday 4th November 2008, so that all logistical arrangements could be taken care of. Persons can call the ministry at (473) 435-0057/440-2731 or can send an email to finance@gov.gd.