Philipsburg:--- After several short adjournments the discussion in the central committee which was called by the coalition government to discuss the draft 2011 budget got underway. Minister of finance Hiro Shigemoto made a presentation of the draft budget during his ellucidations.Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams also gave an outline on how much money is budgeted for her department, mainly general affairs.
Members of the National Alliance faction made clear that they recieved the documents of the draft budget as well as the notification for the meeting which was scheduled for Tuesday on Friday.
Faction leader William Marlin also informed the chair that his faction did not receive the advice issued by the council of advice on the draft budget.Member of Parliament Louis Laveist posed severe questions to Minister of finance regarding the increase of ToT by 66%. Laviest asked the Minister if he knew the prices of bread even though bread and other food items are exempted from the ToT increase.
Laveist pressed for answers from the Minister asking if he consulted the NGO, and stakeholders such as the unions when the Council of Ministers decided to approve the increase in turn over tax. The former commissioner of labour also wanted to know if government considered the minimum wage earners and single parents when they decided to increase the ToT from 3 to 5%.More on the budget discussion can be heard on audio above.
