CATEGORY:BUDGET SPEECH
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The following excerpt is taken from the 2006 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure,delivered by the Hon. Anthony Boatswain, the Minister of Finance, under the theme, "Consolidating Growth, Enhancing Revenue and Providing Safety Nets for the Vulnerable.”


****** CONSOLIDATING GROWTH ******


h) Education and Training

Mr. Speaker, no one should have doubts about this Government's philosophy and approach to education in this country. Over the years, Government has been spending substantially to enhance the quality of teaching in our schools; to improve educational infrastructure; to expand the number and range of scholarships offered to Grenadians to pursue higher studies at home and abroad; and to prepare our people to take advantage of the opportunities that would be available under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.

In 2006, the Ministry of Education completed a plan of action identifying goals, activities and responsible departments for the implementation of the country's 10 year Education Plan. In addition, a strategic development plan has been completed for TAMCC and the topographic survey of lands for the proposed new campus of TAMCC is being commissioned.

Mr. Speaker, today, TAMCC stands out as the largest tertiary institution in the OECS with 2,710 full time students. The College has recently established strategic partnerships with the University of Guyana, St George's University, UWI, Florida State University and Metropolitan College. These alliances will allow for assistance in quality assurance and in admission of TAMCC students and staff in these universities for full time Masters and PhD courses. In addition, staff of TAMCC will serve as external examiners for these institutions.

In order to ensure that TAMCC satisfies the contemporary needs of our students, the College has just added two new courses to its curriculum: these are the Nursing Programme and an Associate Degree in Elementary Education. In keeping with the suggestions from the national consultation, I wish to inform the nation that TAMCC already has centers in Carriacou and St. Andrews and the plan is to extend these centers in 2007 to St. David's, St. John 's and other parts of St. George's.

Mr. Speaker in 2006, the Ministry provided training opportunities for staff members to improve their competencies and to prepare them for future administrative responsibilities within the Ministry. In this regard some forty officers are either being trained or have been trained in different disciplines within the Ministry. Some 48 teachers participated in study tours in St. Lucia this year to gain further experience in the Caribbean Centres of Excellence for Teacher Training programme. Twenty teachers are participating in the UWI Distance Education Programme as a means of improving teacher competence in dealing with literacy among students. In an effort to improve the delivery of education and expand learning opportunities through the use of technology and electronic media, the ITC facilities at the Teacher Education Department has been upgraded and 6 persons have so far received training in computer hardware and software.

In the area of scholarships Mr. Speaker, in 2006, a total of 195 Grenadians were awarded training opportunities at higher institutions of learning at home and abroad. At present there are 8 Grenadians pursuing hospitality studies in Antigua; 4 in Venezuela studying Physical Education; 1 doing hospitality studies in Cyprus; 14 are at the St. George's University in Medicine and Arts; 11 are in Cuban Universities in different fields; 5 in China in Clinical Medicine and Civil Engineering, 10 are attached to the City of New York in different areas; 40 nurses are attached to the Nursing Programme in Grenada; 24 are presently in Mexico in Economics, Engineering and Nursing and 12 are at the Midwestern State University in different areas of study. Mr. Speaker, this is an example of a Government that is people centered and places education at the centerpiece of the country's growth and development.

Recognizing that literacy is still a major problem for many persons in Grenada, the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Government of Cuba launched in November of this year, the “Yes I Can” Adult Literacy Programme. The programme aims at providing all persons in Grenada especially youths and adults who are unable to read and write with the opportunity to do so free of charge. The programme consists of providing 64 video classes of the four basic skills of language: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Classes will be held in schools, churches, homes, community centers, on days and time appropriate to the students. At the end of the programme certificates will be awarded to students at a graduation ceremony. Mr. Speaker, this programme is the first of its kind in the English Speaking Caribbean and the Ministry encourages everyone who needs help in reading and writing to fill out the application form and drop it off at the nearest Revenue or Post Office.

Another major programme implemented by the Ministry in 2006 was the Enhanced Learning Programme. The Ministry has recognized that many of our secondary school children in forms 1 and 11 leave primary schools with inadequate skills in Numeracy and Literacy. The programme therefore seeks to increase performance standards among such students in Mathematics and English by providing them with classes on Saturdays from 9.00 am to 12.30 pm. Students attending the programme have been demonstrating much improvement in their performance.

In the area of reconstruction, furnishing and equipping schools, in 2006, 51 pre-primary, primary and secondary schools have been reconstructed; work is presently ongoing on six schools; 17 schools are in the preparation stage for reconstruction and an additional 29 have been identified for future reconstruction and upgrading. Over 60 per cent of the furniture has been replaced in all schools.

A total of EC$15.3m have been allocated for the Ministry's capital budget in 2007, financed in part from loans and grants. The focus will be on completing the rehabilitation of ongoing schools, making greater use of existing facilities, especially ICT; providing adequate safety nets for vulnerable students; strengthening delivery and supervision of education at all levels, and establishing a student support unit in the Ministry of Education.

Under the BNTF grant funded by CDB, six schools totaling EC$6.8m have been approved for implementation in 2007. These schools are as follows:

In St. Andrew; La Digue pre-school, Grenville pre-school and Paradise pre-school; in St. George's: Green Street pre-school and Riverview pre-school; and in St. Marks, the Victoria pre-school.

i) Health and the Environment

Mr. Speaker, this Government recognizes the close linkage between economic growth and human development since a healthy nation can contribute to a higher level of income, employment and output. In 2006 the Ministry of Health was actively involved in strengthening the delivery of its services, in renovating damaged health facilities, in completing a five year strategic plan, preparing for 2007 CWC, improving clinical governance in hospital services and implementing Phase II of the New Hospital project. In this regard, a number of officers received training in different areas of hospital management; and various departments were strengthened through the IMANI programme thereby improving the delivery of hospital services.

In the area of hospital infrastructure, a new roof was constructed at the Richmond Home; work commenced on the rebuilding and expansion of the Princess Alice Hospital and its adjoining doctor's residence, and the rebuilding of the Nursing School was completed. In addition, a temporary health care facility was established in Sauteurs. Repairs have begun on the Sauteurs Health Centre, while the Mt. Rich Health Facility has been fully repaired. In St. Andrew, work has started on the Mt. Carmel and Grand Bras health centers.

In an effort to improve the community health services a District Medical Officer is now attached to the St. George's Health Centre to provide evening services for the population; primary health care teams have been re-established in St. George's and Carriacou and similar teams will soon be available in the other parishes.

In 2007, a total of EC$12.1m have been allocated for capital spending in the health sector. Work has commenced on the Second Phase of the New Hospital with grant funding from the Government of Venezuela. Work will also begin on the Princess Royal Hospital, the Vector Control building and the Central Medical Stores with funding from the World Bank.

Under the BNTF, the Tivoli, Paraclete and Grand Anse Community health facilities will be rebuilt in 2007 at a total cost of EC$2.0m.

The Ministry will continue to improve the delivery of its services with appropriate training of its staff by CARICAD. Work will also be intensified in the area of vector and rodent control and training programmes will be held for food handlers to ensure greater food safety in Grenada.

At the community level, Gynecology clinics will be extended to all parishes and extended hours of service will be instituted at some health centers.

With regards to the environment, following the adoption of the National Environmental Policy and Management Strategy in 2005, a number of activities have been undertaken in 2006 geared towards the implementation of the national policy framework. Among these were:

• Ongoing promulgation of the policy framework to focus groups and implementation partners including schools
• The drafting of environmental legislation
• Establishing an environmental coordinating committee
• Developing a land use policy in collaboration with ARD
• Developing an annual national environmental award programme

In 2007, the focus will be on introducing a community-based approach to environmental management and sustainable development and on developing a national environmental certification system.

j) Infrastructure Development

Mr. Speaker, for many years now this Government has been implementing an expanded programme of infrastructural development as the basis for creating the conditions for sustained growth and development and allowing for greater private sector involvement in the economy. It is not therefore by chance that when we look around this country we see such major transformation of the physical landscape, and in the social and public infrastructure. In 2006, the Ministry of Communications and Works spent over EC$121.2m on improving the social and physical infrastructure of the country.

Close to EC$1.0m was spent on upgrading the St. George's Market Square; over EC$3.2m spent on refurbishing Government buildings including Police Stations; approximately EC$15.5m spent on road maintenance; over EC$11m spent on bridges and road improvement; and over EC$350,000 spent on equipping and strengthening the operations of the Ministry.

In 2007, the Ministry's capital programme amounts to EC$43.2m, which is almost 20 per cent of the total capital budget. Priority areas for the Ministry include completing the St. George's Market Square; the construction of Parliament building and the Governor General’s official residence; rehabilitating Government buildings including the Sauteurs and Grenville Police Stations; completing all roads and bridges related to CWC; and continuing with its road improvement and maintenance programme. The Ministry will continue its effort to address the rock fall and land slippages especially on the western side of the country. For this just over EC$1.5m has been allocated.

Mr. Speaker I wish to inform this Nation of a major project to be undertaken by Government as of 2007 to improve the town of Grenville. As we all know the Town of Grenville has over the years been affected by floods. There is also a need to improve and expand the market, as well as to facilitate easy flow of vehicular traffic in the town. With technical assistance from CDB Government has designed the Grenville Market Square, Abattoir and Bus Terminal Project which will completely transform the town and solve the many problems presently affecting the Big Parish.

With this project, a new bus terminal will be constructed at Moon Shadow Park after all residents there have been relocated together with the persons living in vulnerable areas in Soubise. The market square will be expanded to provide more booths for vendors, thereby keeping the streets free for vehicular traffic and pedestrians. The present abattoir will be relocated to Maribeau where a modern abattoir will be built for the slaughtering of all animals including those in our backyard, for a small fee. There will therefore be no more slaughtering of animals at the market and in our backyard. All butchers would be required to slaughter their animals at the Maribeau abattoir and transport the meat to the market for sale in modern and advanced meat stalls. Our butchers will therefore receive special training in operating new equipment for the cutting and preparing meat for sale to the general public.

The project also involves the conduct of a study to identify the reasons for flooding in the Town and the implementation of measures to remedy this situation.

Mr. Speaker this project will provide opportunities to redevelop Grenville Town as the regional urban centre serving the northern and eastern parishes of Grenada. This will partially redress the imbalances in the development between the St. George's and other towns thereby stemming the rural drift that is now taking place in the country and which has been a major issue arising from the national consultation. The new abattoir will provide for the hygienic slaughtering of animals; bus operators will now operate in a less congested environment; the general aesthetics of the town will be improved; drainage works will reduce the risk of flooding and the resultant loss of revenue by vendors and other businesses. The cultural heritage of the market will be preserved and will be used for cultural shows and activities. In short, Mr. Speaker, this project will have an overall impact on economic activity and improve the quality of life in Grenville as well as contribute to sustaining rural livelihoods in the Parishes of St. Andrew's, St. David's and St. Patrick's.

Mr. Speaker, the estimated cost of the project is EC$30m and is financed in the form of a concessionary loan from the Caribbean Development Bank. The project is expected to get started in 2007.

k) Ministry of Carriacou and Petit Martinique Affairs

In 2006 approximately EC$1.2m was spent on different capital projects in Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Noted among them was the construction of the Carriacou Multipurpose Centre; the food security programme, the road rehabilitation programme and in the area of training, the youth employment and training programme.

In 2007, EC$4.5m have been allocated, of which EC$200,000 is for the expansion of the Petit Martinique Playing Field. Coming out of the consultation with the people of Carriacou and Petit Martinique, EC$1.0m have been allocated for reconstruction of the cultural and sporting centre at Carriacou. Also in Petit Martinique the main road will be resurfaced in 2007.

In Carriacou, work will continue with the road rehabilitation programme, the rehabilitation of the upgrading of Hillsborough hard court, and the renovation of fish centers. Some of the new projects to be implemented in 2007 include the Windward Sea Defense and Concrete Road and Drain and the construction of the Carriacou Ministerial Complex. In addition, Government has allocated EC$50,000 to conduct surveys on the lands in Dumfries, Limlair and Belair, to determine their most effective usage.