by Linda Straker
- Revenue for June 2021 was $8.4 million more than June 2020 collections
- Most revenue was earned through taxes on international transactions
- Customs and Excise collected more than EC$80 million in April, May and June
The Fiscal Reports for the months of April, May and June have shown that the Government earned more than the targeted revenue as projected in the 2021 Estimate of Revenue. All 3 months also surpass the amount earned for the same period in 2020.
Current Revenue for April 2021 was $57.8 million, which was $8.2 million more than the April 2021 target and $13.2 million more than the collections for April 2020. Revenue for May 2021 was $57.7 million which was $3.2 million more than the May 2021 target and $11.1 million more than the collections for May 2020. Current Revenue for June 2021 was $60.4 million, which was $7.2 million more than the June 2021 target and $8.4 million more than the collections for June 2020.
The most revenue was earned through taxes on international transactions, with Customs and Excise collecting more than EC$80 million during those 3 months.
However, despite surpassing targets, the Government’s expenditure according to the monthly fiscal report for each of the 3 months was more than the targeted amount. In April, the total Current Expenditure, excluding principal repayments on debt, for the month of April was $51.5 million which was $0.4 million more than the $51.1 million targeted.
For the month of May 2021, total Current Expenditure, excluding principal repayments for the month of May was $65.6 million which was $5.7 million more than the $59.9 million targeted. In the month of June total Current Expenditure, excluding principal repayments for the month of June was $50.8 million, which was $2.3 million more than the $48.5 million targeted.
Principal repayments on debt for April 2021 were $26.2 million, while interest payments totalled $3.1 million. For May 2021 principal repayments on Debt was $23.3 million, while interest payments totaled $11.5 million. The month of June the Principal Repayments on Debt was $8.7 million, while interest payments totaled $2.4 million.
According to the Annual Debt Report for 2020, the total public debt amounted to $1,988.5 million or 70.6% of GDP. “Based on a preliminary inhouse debt sustainability analysis conducted, public debt is projected to decrease over the medium term (2021 – 2023) moving from 65.7% of GDP in 2021 to 62.7% in 2023,” said the report which is publicly available on the Ministry of Finance website.
“A mix of upside and downside risks remain for the outlook over the medium-term as uncertainty persists regarding the evolution of the pandemic. The projected contraction in global economic activity particularly in the economies of Grenada’s main trading partners will negatively affect tourist arrivals, remittances, and foreign direct investments,” said the report. The report explained that the increase in the debt-to-GDP ratio was because of new borrowing from external creditors primarily for emergency spending because of the Covid-19 crisis as well as a decline in total output.
The report said that vaccine hesitancy by the population and the protocols in place for visitors to the island will continue to affect the tourism sector, which contributes significantly to the local economy. Rising international oil prices is also a significant risk to the economic outlook.
“Despite these downside risks, the robust macro-fiscal position of Grenada before the pandemic offers some level of mitigation,” said the report which confirmed that debt repayment for 2020 totaled EC$ 272.3 million. From that amount Interest payment was $55.9 million and principal payment $216.4 million.
Earned? Earned? Earned?
The Government forcibly take what other people actually Earned with their hard work, sweat and tears.
Taxation is legalised Theft by the State. The Grenada Government did not earn one red cent.
Just look at the ridiculous high prices for essential everyday household goods in Grenada, compare the high price to UK, US and Canada. Often its double and triple the price the working people in foreign countries, pay for the same or better quality goods and products.
So, no doubt they are proud of their highway robbery high Taxes, because they dont care or give a damn about the heavy Taxation burden on their poor victims in Granada. Everything un Grenada is over priced as a direct consequence of Taxation and Government policy.