More delays on budget debate

| 12/05/2011

(CNS):The date for the state opening of the parliamentary budget session has been pushed back once again. Officials did not say why government has postponed the ceremonial opening a further three days but stated Wednesday that the date had been moved from Tuesday, 17 to Friday, 20 May. The premier is expected to deliver his strategic policy statement for the next fiscal year and reveal the details of expected operational expenses and earnings. Last week the premier issue directions to senior civil servants to finish this current fiscal year with a surplus in the wake of figures which revealed a potential year end deficit, but government has not said if this is the cause of the delay.

With no further borrowing allowed under the three year fiscal plan approved by the UK government last year in order to allow government to borrow in this financial year it will need to present a financial plan for 2011/12 that does not anticipate a deficit.

Speaking at a UDP public meeting on Tuesday evening McKeeva Bush who is also the finance minister and responsible for delivery the budget said that under the terms of that three year plan he is obligated to show and achieve a small surplus by the end of 2011/12. Bush indicated in his memo last week that the five of the $15million surplus he wanted for this year end would go towards this new budget. 

The premier has said that government’s finances have been stabilized as a result of the work of his administration and that it had been successful in reigning in public spending.

Although government ministers have indicated there will be no fee cuts in the forthcoming budget it has not yet stated if there will be a need to introduce any new fees or taxes to ensure government makes its surplus or whether there will be further cuts in operational expenses.
 

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  1. Still Waiting says:

    I'll bet you ten dollars the Premier has never missed a flight.

    • Anonymous says:

      It is well known that they've actually held many CAL flights for him. He would've missed those flights if they didn't wait for his arrival.

    • Anonymous says:

      Only because Cayman Airways holds the plane for him! Anyone else been sitting there waiting to take off wondering what the hold up is and seen him waltz in?

  2. Anonymous says:

    Telling the truth takes less time than hiding it.  But why even worry about what you say as there will be no reporting to ever prove you wrong.

  3. anonymous says:

    Does Mac know what a budget is, anyhow?  Did he not failed arithmetic in school? C'Mon man….give Finance to Rolston or someone else that understands Balance Sheets.

  4. Anonymous says:

    How are you sure/positive that the Premier would know where to start when it came to the preparation of a budget.  I hazard a guess, the presentation of the budget was delayed because of the case before the court.  He sure spent some time there.   How would he split his time between the two things happening at the same time? 

  5. Anonymous says:

    unexplained delays with no explanation given……… this place is doomed…… governor, where are you?

  6. Anonymous says:

    Can we even seriously mention the words 'strategic' and 'plan' in connection with the Premier and this Government?

  7. Anonymous says:

    Maybe if the Premier pent time working on the budget as  opposed to sitting in the courtroom watching the trial of Mr. Seymour the budget would be ready time.  I wonder if yhe was trying to influence the jury by just being there?

    • The Lone Haranguer says:

      Yeah that is bad, does he not trust our justice system ?

    • Anonymous says:

      He had to be there to see what was going to happen to his "sacred Member".

  8. Anonymous says:

    XXXX

    The UDP have failed us. They have overspent and procrastinated. Isn't this what we accused the PPM of? Before anyone chooses sides, the point I'm making is that both parties have failed us. It baffles me for such a wealthy country not only that our public schools system has failed us, but that there are politicians who STILL proudly refer to themselves as EDUCATION MINISTER past or present. Based on results we have NEVER had a successful education minister. Neither party understands fiscal prudence, financial markets, immigration, not even tourism. Cayman politics has sadly developed solely into the business of getting votes. 

    Cayman needs to go back to its core values. It must elect people who understand the business of the country, the needs of the people, and who are willing to work for country for a reasonable price. The honor is in serving your people, not being elected. If we can't go back to that then we are solidifying the deterioration of our society / standards of living.

     

  9. 3RD CLASS CITIZEN says:

    We want answers to the 24 questions now. Or you have no answers?

  10. Anonymous says:

    cns: when will you have a poll regarding the non-performance of the governor?

    CNS: Good idea. Check out the new poll.

    • Sameole says:

      What about a poll on how effective the Auditor General has been and what about the Financial Secretary whomever it might be?

  11. Anonymous says:

    ahh yes…another sham budget soon some……. governor, where are you?

  12. Anonymous says:

    more delays? Oh no, what's he cooking up this time?

  13. Anonymous says:

    It is clear that once again Mac has no idea what the plan is.  While he was in Vegas last weekend he could have been in Cayman working on the budget.