Robertson S. Henry. Sports and Cultural Contributor
MONDAY FEBRUARY 01, 2016; KINGSTOWN, ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES – The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, and Rural Transformation has a critical and important role to play in the advancement and development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
So stated Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, and Rural Transformation when he made his contribution to the 2016 Annual Estimates of Expenditure of the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines last Friday January 29, 2016.
“Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, and Rural Transformation has a critical and important role to continue to play in the development and advancement of our nation,” stated Caesar. “The sums allocated in the Estimates are geared to facilitating such growth.”
In the 2016 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, the total approved for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, and Rural Transformation is EC$46,889,742.00, of which EC$20,200,642.00 has been allocated for Recurrent Expenditure, while EC$26,689,100.00 goes towards Capital Expenditure.
Honourable Caesar explained that “The total allocation Recurrent and Capital EC$46,889,742.00 for the 2016 fiscal year represents an increase of EC$6 million. This comparism is against the backdrop that CED (Centre for Enterprise Development) the Bureau of Standards and Industry, are no longer with the Ministry of Agriculture.”
Honourable Caesar then went on to explain the breakdown of allocated funds in the 2016 Estimates of Expenditure to his fellow parliamentarians.
That was Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, and Rural Transformation speaking in Parliament, during the tabling of the 2016 estimates of Expenditure last Friday January 29, 2016
In doing so, he focused on the programmes in which changes to their funding was effected, and the largest increase of 128.8% went to the Soufriere Monitoring Unit, and the largest decline in funding is in the Banana services Unit of 16.1% brought about by the falling oil prices.
The Recurrent Estimates of EC$20,200,642.00 “is 2.8% of the country’s total recurrent budget. Of the nine programme currently under the ministry, increases were reflected in six, while declines were reflected in three.”
The changes by percent in allocation 2015 – 2016 under the nine programme of the ministry saw the largest increase of 128.8% is being reflected in the Soufriere Monitoring Unit programme 467.
According to the Agriculture Minister, “This is due Mr Speaker mainly to the allocation of finances required for the payment of an annual contribution of EC$300,000.00 to the Seismic Research Centre.
“The second largest increase is reflected in the research and development programme; programme 453 due mainly to the allocation of finance to pay annual contribution of EC$200,000.00 to the Caribbean Research and Development Institute (C.A.R.D.I.).”
The largest decline as pointed out by the Honourable Saboto Caesar, is of 16.1 percent, “under programme 472 the Banana Services Unit, and Mr. Speaker this is due to the fact that the materials and supplies sub-account under this programme has been mainly for the purchase of fuel to conduct spraying operations for the control and management of the black Sigatoka disease, in bananas and plantains.”
