Prime Minister: "Now working diligently to have an approved 2014 Budget before the end of 2013"
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams commented on Friday that the Kingdom Council of Ministers have not issued an instruction on the 2013 Budget on Friday due to Government's diligent work in balancing the amended Budget. The Council on Financial Supervision CFT had issued an advice regarding the 2013 Budget, however with the passing of the Budget by Parliament and the subsequent signing by the Governor and Prime Minister the Kingdom Council of Ministers did not see the need to issue an instruction on Friday.
"Friday was a day that we all were looking at with keen attention as far as the 2013 Budget is concerned. As we all were aware there was a pending advice by the CFT regarding the 2013 Budget of St. Maarten. Due to the amended Budget that was accepted by Parliament and later signed off by the Governor and the Ministers the advice from the CFT to the Kingdom Council of Ministers to issue an advice regarding an approved Budget is now off of the table. Considering that Parliament approved the Budget any instruction in that context would have not been necessary and we are satisfied to see that the Kingdom Council of Ministers did not accept it.
"The amended Budget has now been signed off and the next step is to have the necessary review conducted by the ombudsman as per the constitutional ordinance. Additionally the Government of St. Maarten has already started with the preparations of the 2014 Budget, which have picked up speed. We as Government would like to see an approved Budget 2014 before the year 2013 closes and are working very hard on achieving that. So for now the instruction is off of the table and we still need to continue the process for the preparation of the 2014 Budget before the end of 2013," commented the Prime Minister.
From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister
