CATEGORY:POLITICS
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EDITOR'S NOTE: This article represents the views, policies and vision of the New National Party (NNP) headed by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell. The NNP has been in office since 1995 - for three consecutive terms. In the last general election, the NNP won 8 of the 15 seats that were contested.



THE NATIONAL BUDGET is a one year plan, that provides details about when, where, how, and how much is spent on the developmental aspects as presented by the Government. It is a financial layout of how the planned goals and objectives will be achieved.

Government plays a major role in the development of our economy. In this post Colonial period, Government plays a more prominent role in stimulating growth and development in the economy. This development is done through the budget.

As the budget seeks to solve the problems and address the needs of the People, the People should have input in its makeup. The budget made the rounds – through consultation with the relevant experts and the People. Typically, a budget that reflects the desires of the People seeks to solve their most burning problems first.

The Economic Reform Programme 2006 -2008 has four key elements: (1) Enhancing growth (2) Restoring fiscal and debt sustainability (3) Reducing vulnerabilities (4) Poverty alleviation. The reform Programme received enormous support from regional and international organizations.

This year (2006) marks the first year of the Reform Programme and its performance provides the basis for a general overview of the micro economic and fiscal developments that are expected during 2006 as well as the general framework for the 2007 Estimates of Revenue an Expenditure (Budget).

There are special interest areas:
• VAT which will replace GCT, Ticket tax, and Stamp tax – arrangements are being made.
• A re-evaluation of all property in Grenada.
• Social Safety Nets: On the social front, we need to continue efforts to strengthen social safety nets for the vulnerable groups and to continue to build the social infrastructure of education, health and sport. Government, in its unwavering quest to meet the needs of its citizens, has made more money, per person, available to the Public Assistance Programme. The Ministry of Social Development extends its care for the vulnerable, elderly, and disabled.

We as a nation aspire to do well in the eyes of the international community, but as we consider the plight of some of our less fortunate people this Government is committed to being Good to those people. We continue to expand on the Social Safety Nets Programme.

The Ministry is now assisting some four thousand persons throughout Grenada under the Public Assistance Programme. Additionally, the Ministry has increased the monthly beneficiaries from $100 to $130 per person.

Under the Social Safety Nets, they are other areas such as: (1) The Necessitous Fund – to help children go to school (transportation), (2) Water – individual water service to our elderly that replaces the void left by NAWASA’S removal of stand pipes (service ends at time of death), (3) Burial Assistance – to the amount of $800 per needy family (who fall outside of normal insurance assistance), (4) Disaster Assistance – for fire or localized disaster – to the amount of $1,500 per needy family (not NaDMA related), (5) Bus Drivers - concession arrangements for bus drivers, (6) Free Drugs – for the needy, (7) Medical Support – for the needy who have to travel abroad for medical attention.

The aim of the Government is to assist every vulnerable person who falls within the ambits of the criteria established under the Public Assistance Programme.

Some of the basic requirements that will enable someone to receive Public Assistance are persons requesting assistance should be sixty (60) years and over in cases whereby one is physically or mentally disabled and is unable to work. Persons should be unemployed or have little or no source of income, also, persons receiving pension or substantially supported by family members will not be considered.

The Ministry of Education has delivered a timely and well received Primary School Financial Assistance Programme: Some seven thousand students representing more than four thousand families have received assistance under the Government’s programme. The programme is geared to assist our most needy students by providing assistance in the form of uniforms, books, transportation, and other necessities. The Government of Grenada has been solely funding the programme since 2005.

The Ministry of Education has recommended the ‘School Feeding Programme.’ The nation’s primary, selected pre-primary and secondary schools are supplied monthly with cash disbursements for the purchasing of selected food items, salaries for cooks, and equipment to maintain kitchens.

On empty stomachs, children become easily distracted and have problems concentrating on their lessons. The promise of at least one nutritious meal each day attracts children to school and enhances student performance. We support the idea “we eat what we grow” and specific emphasis is placed on providing nutritious meals for the students.

Textbook Rental Programme: The objective of this programme is to make core textbooks available to needy students to ensure that they can maximize participation in the learning process. Both secondary and primary schools benefit from this programme. The school principals are responsible for managing the process.

Fisheries Development: Persons from the Waltham community were selected to undergo training in Trinidad in smoke fishing.

The Government continues to meticulously examine the ways and means of moving this blessed country forward and is confident that the People of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique are best served.