Basseterre, St. Kitts Nevis
December 05, 2007 (CUOPM)
As St. Kitts and Nevis prepares for the 2008 Budget Presentation in the National Assembly next week Tuesday 11th December, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas said Tuesday the twin-island Federation has to be in the forefront in strengthening the budget process through the introduction of performance budgeting and multi-year programming and disclosed that the Budget will be presented in three composite documents.
“The project goal is to further enhance government transparency in budget allocation and further strengthen government accountability and the consultative process which my own Administration is seeking to perfect on a daily basis, Prime Minister Douglas said at his monthly Press Conference.
He told reporters and the nation during the Press Conference that was carried live on radio and television that the objective is to enable the Government to improve the preparation of the budget to achieve social and economic development objectives and to provide better estimates for those of the public service who mange the process.
Dr. Douglas said that this will be accomplished through building capacity in refining the government programme structure and performance indicators and by integrating capital, recurrent and transfer estimates.
It will also increase accountability and empowerment of public fund managers at all levels of the government system and improve budget presentation to the public by publishing more information on government plans and government priorities.
Prime Minister Douglas disclosed that the 2008 Budget will for the first be presented in three composite documents.
Volume 1 – on government expenditure plan will provide summary tables and important information on the overall government expenditure for the fiscal year 2008.
Volume 2 – will report on plans and priorities of the government. This document will present to the public for the first time, the plans and priorities of each portfolio, including performance-based planning and reporting and the linkages to the specific resources assigned.
Volume 3 – will provide detailed information on the government revenue projections and sources of such revenues.
Dr. Douglas called on the general public to listen for more important information during the Budget Presentation on December 11th.