Finance Minister Hon. Marco Archer, JP, is busy putting the finishing touches to his Budget Address that he promises will unveil a people- and business-friendly budget, with no new revenue measures planned.

“This budget is a good package,” Mr. Archer said this morning (Thursday, 22 May 2014). He said it would positively impact the business community and households as well as various sectors of the economy, with no inflationary triggers, yet controlling costs through prudent spending.

Minister Archer said Government received the UK’s approval on 21 May to the 2014-2015 budget which will be presented on Monday, 26 May 2014 at the State Opening of the LA. He indicated that preparation for his second budget began in February.

The first sitting of the first meeting of the LA’s 2014-2015 session will feature the Throne Speech by Her Excellency the Governor, Mrs. Helen Kilpatrick, CB and Government’s policy for the coming fiscal year by the Premier, Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, followed by the Budget Address by Minister Archer. Debate by MLAs on the three presentations is expected to commence on Thursday, 29 May 2014.

This will be followed by MLAs scrutinising and approving budget proposals in Finance Committee, and subsequently passing the budget in the LA. The approved budget has to be gazetted before 30 June 2014 in order to take effect on 1 July 2014.

(View Mr. Archer’s interview excerpts on the upcoming budget address on CIGtv today starting at 5 pm.)

Photo caption: Photo by Bina Mani

Finance Minister Hon. Marco Archer, JP says: Expect a people-, business-friendly budget on Monday. Catch his interview on CIGtv this evening on WestStar Channel20 from 5 pm and on CIGovtInfoServices on YouTube.