The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Senators have termed the 2007 Budget Presentation by government as nothing more than a "recycled budget" which over the years have not been fulfilled.
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| Sen. George Prime |
Senator George Prime, in his response to the budget presentation told the Senate that the 2007 budget is just a continuation of government's empty promises.
He charged that the budget does not adequately provide for the economic development of the two sister isles of Carriacou and Petite Martinique especially in the rural areas.
According to Prime, the budget only provides safety nets for members of the ruling New National Party (NNP) administration and not for the vulnerable as outlined in the package on December 15 by Finance Minister, Anthony Boatswain.
In 2006 Government budgeted $2.1 million for the development of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
But the Minister of Finance in his 2007 Budget presentation pointed out that $1.2 million was spent on different capital projects on the sister isles.
Among them was the construction of the Carriacou Multi-purpose Centre, a food security programme, road rehabilitation programme, and a youth employment and training programme.
This year, a total of $4.5 million have been allocated for Carriacou and Petite Martinique of which EC $200,000.00 is for the expansion of the Petite Martinique Playing Field; and $1.0 million for the reconstruction of the Cultural and Sporting Centre at Carriacou.
Prime told the Senate that the rural economy has collapsed and that cost of living on the sister isles is twice higher than on the mainland, adding that 32.1% of the island's population live under the poverty line.
He expressed concern as it relates to the Dumfries Estate, the Belair Land Settlement, Carriacou Stadium contracts, and Lauriston Airport.
