Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne on Thursday announced a $1.4 Billion dollar budget with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology receiving the highest budgetary allocation in the amount of $143.1 million.
Prime Minister Browne in his budget highlighted his government’s commitment to improving all levels and modalities of education in Antigua and Barbuda which he said that is a platform for high levels of economic growth.
This budget provides for an overall resource requirement of $1.4 billion. This represents a decrease of 18%, or approximately $300 million, when compared to total estimates for 2020. This reduction is not due to the government’s reduction in service delivery, but an adoption of more efficient measures of service delivery. The budgetary and fiscal position points to an overall deficit of 3.4 per cent of GDP or $133.7 million, and a primary deficit of 0.8 per cent of GDP or $30.5 million.
The country’s leader announced that his government expects revenue to improve gradually over 2020’s. He said that Recurrent Revenue is estimated at $872.5 million for 2021, which is a 17% increase over the $745.8 million generated in 2020. The components of recurrent revenue are Indirect Tax Revenue – $604.2 million; Direct Tax Revenue – $98.5 million and Non-Tax Revenue – $169.0 million
PM Browne said that the Customs and Excise Division and the Inland Revenue Department are tasked with the all-important responsibility of delivering this revenue performance. The amount budgeted for capital receipts is $7 million, while grant funding for Fiscal Year 2021 is budgeted at $82.1 million.
The components of recurrent expenditure are:
- Wages and Salaries – $402.8 million
- Transfers and Grants – $154.4 million
- Pensions and Gratuities – $70.9 million
- Goods and Services – $157.9 million
- Interest Payments – $103.2 million
- Statutory Contributions – $39.0 million
Government’s Capital Budget for 2021 is $167.2 million, which is a 62% increase over the $103.3 million spent on capital projects in 2020.
Prime Minister Browne said that the increase in capital spending is part of Government’s strategy to promote economic activity while the country awaits a rebound in the tourism sector.
He said that spending on road works will amount to $31.9 million in 2021 and $43 million has been allocated for major repairs and maintenance to government buildings and to improve climate resilience of critical government infrastructure.
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Are you pregnant? I am asking that man standing at the podium.Just be careful with your calories intake daily.A little running daily on the beach.Would surely do you some good.
You can have a flat stomach and be diseased. Skinny doesn’t mean healthy.
Have you ever heard of belly fat.The dangers of belly fat to the LIVER.Do your search and come again.
Wow! That belly big. Too too big.
KNIGHT from the Snakepit could NOT explain the BUDGET. Knight is just a DUNCE Element. Should NOT be on Radio.Knight is just UPP NOISE MAKER.
@R.P
Totally in agreement.I listened to Knight and Carty.Both men were sounded so Stupid last event.They did not understand the Budget. It way over Their heads. Shame on KNIGHT and CARTY.
I heard UPP and Harold Lovell CENSORED D.GISEL ISAAC. It is about time. Next to be CENSORED is Harold Lovell.
With what money? Not a single minister has mentioned taking a pay cut. All they do is take take take.
Where are Nigel Christian’s murderers?
His belly is big because it is full of the people’s food. He will get gout shortly.
Where are the comments here about the education allocation? Like who is asking if the allocation is so big because it has to cover the UWI campus and has nothing to do with our little pickey head children in primary and secondary school?
What will he take away from them this time? Free schooling?
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