CATEGORY:BUDGET SPEECH
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Presented in Parliament by Grenada's Finance Minister, Hon. Anthony Boatswain.



9. GRENADA’S PREPARATION FOR THE CARICOM SINGLE MARKET AND ECONOMY

Mr. Speaker, on the 3rd of July, 2006, Grenada together with the rest of OECS countries signed on to the Single Market arrangement.

The necessary legislation was amended to give effect to the Single Market and to be compliant with the Revised Treaty. The Single Economy is expected to be launched in 2008.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that the CSME Unit in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has intensified its Public Education Programme throughout Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. During the period 1st January to 30th November 2006, a total of eighty-four presentations on the CSME were made by officers of the unit. Public education will again be given priority in 2007.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform this Honourable House that two new categories of workers for Free Movement have been added to the five I mentioned last year: these are Nurses and Teachers. The intention is that by 2008, there will be total free movement.

Mr. Speaker, the Revised Treaty makes provisions for disadvantaged countries, to enhance their prospects for successful participation within the Community. Grenada will ensure that measures are put in place to address, to the extent possible, any negative impact of the establishment of the CSME on the economy.


10. GOVERNANCE

Mr. Speaker, this Government prides itself in practicing the principles of transparency and openness in matters of the State and of public life. We have now institutionalized the consultative process with our people in the preparation of the Annual Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure. The Ministry of Finance holds quarterly meetings with commercial banks, insurance companies and statutory bodies. The Prime Minister himself has sought to organize quarterly meetings with the Trade Union Council, and all forms of the media are widely used for persons to express their feelings and opinions without fear.

Mr. Speaker during this year, the Government sought to enhance the work of the Multipartite Committee by providing it with a Secretary and an annual budgetary allocation. We have sought technical advise from similar institutions within the region; in July, the ECCB made a presentation to the Government Negotiating Team and the Trade Union Council on the relevance and compilation of the CPI, since it was a major issue in the present round of salary negotiations for public officers; and only a few weeks ago, the Governor of the ECCB together with the leaders of similar organizations in the OECS made presentations to our local multipartite committee on issues of prices, wages, employment and productivity. These discussions will assist the multipartite committee in drafting its position on wages, prices, productivity and employment to be binding by all parties concerned. Earlier this year when the NRL was the most discussed issue in the country, Government first engaged the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and then the Conference of Churches of Grenada to mediate in the discussions with the unions.

Mr. Speaker, in order to ensure integrity in public life, two Bills are presently before the Parliament namely: the Integrity in Public Life Act 2006 and the Prevention of Corruption Act 2006. Mr. Speaker Government is committed in ensuring early enactment of these bills.