by Linda Straker
- Opposition Leader points to budget inconsistencies for ministries of Agriculture and Infrastructure
- Dr Mitchell became Opposition Leader in June 2022
- Rebuttal from Opposition Leader begins budget debate in Lower House
Opposition Leader Dr Keith Mitchell in his response to the EC$1.3 billion budget or Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, claimed that some allocations, as presented by Finance Minister Dickon Mitchell in his budget statement, are inconsistent with the actual allocation in the budget estimates.
“Based on the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, these areas have gone up by 2 million and 5 million, respectively. I remain baffled by the inconsistency between what was said in the budget and the numbers in the estimates,” he said in response to the budget statement presented to the Lower House of Parliament on Monday, 5 December 2022.
“Mr Speaker, the Minister of Finance and Prime Minister stated on page 12 of his budget statement that the budget for the Ministry of Agriculture is EC$54.3 million, the largest ever with a EC$14.3 million increase. Mr Speaker, I am not sure what Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure the Prime Minister was reading, but the budget for the Ministry of Agriculture as set out on page 468 of the Estimates is EC$39.4 million,” he told the House.
Identifying other discrepancies, the Opposition Leader pointed to the Ministry of Infrastructure having had the largest budget of EC$143.1 [million] as stated on page 12 of the budget speech the Minister of Finance gave. “However, page 338 of the Estimates contradicts his quoted numbers reflecting a budget of $131 million — $98 million less than what was spent by the efforts of the NNP administration. Mr Speaker, it baffles me that the Minister of Finance and Prime Minister presented numbers in a speech, making grand statements that contradict the actual estimates which is the most important document,” he said.
“In other words, there is one in the Prime Minister’s speech and one in the document. I don’t which one to believe…but it cannot remain so. They have to mesh, they have to be consistent. These glaring errors continue to show a disconnect between the budget speech presented and what was actually budgeted by the Government.” Dr Mitchell became Opposition Leader in June 2022 after his New National Party lost the general election.
The Prime Minister presented the 2023 budget on Monday under the theme “Vision 2035 — People-Centred Transformation, laying the foundation for resilience, empowerment, and growth.” The rebuttal from the Opposition Leader is the start of the budget debate in the Lower House. Following the debate in the Lower House, the Estimates will be forwarded to the Upper House or Senate for further debate and approval.
Inconsistencies in a Grenadian budget?? Surely not!! Good heavens!!! Whatever next????
KM… the leader of the losers.
KM broke every rule and when he every opportunity to take the high road and show better discourse he ignored it. Where were you?
Don’t try to lecture me on discourse
he’s one to talk — we all know Dr. Mitchell’s ability to manipulate numbers….
Thank you for shedding all ight on the 2022 Budget. Carib Mag Plus will do our part to expose the truth.
Sadly, KM you do not qualify. The only folks who seems willing to entertain your crookedness are your constituents.
That’s our biggest challenge in grenada…..attack the messenger. The inconsistencies that was highlighted are they true? That is the question. I have looked at the areas spoken about and what he said was indeed true. This should be a lesson for Prime Minister Mitchell if he is honest enough to accept it. Whether you like it or not, given the composition of the Parliament Dr Keith Mitchell is the most qualified. Get over your obsession and focus on the message and refrain from attacking the messager. Fact check the information and dispute it if you can…..#liftthelevelofyourdiscourse
This is not about discourse and taking the high road. This is politics. How we easily forget.
How many messengers KM destroyed. How many messages KM ignored.
TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD. The moral of the story treat people with kindness even when they are good to you.
Sometimes you have to put foot down and defend what you believe in.
Where were you when KM kiilled every messenger and disregard every message?
This is politics
Thank you. look at both sides and stop making inferences on him. They all have their pros and cons. Keith Mitchelle is giving a suggestion we are all one. It’s a fact he is indeed qualified.