Friday, December 12, is Budget Day in Anguilla but, up to midday, the people of the island had no advanced clear knowledge about what were the actual figures of Recurrent Revenue, Recurrent Expenditure, and Capital Expenditure for 2015.
An official in the Ministry of Finance, when asked about the figures, politely said it would a contravention of the normal practice to disclose the budgetary provisions, until the Minister of Finance presented the Budget Address in the Anguilla House of Assembly when it commenced at 2.00 pm.
What was made clear, however, is that although the 2015 Budget is supported by various already-imposed taxes from the previous year, “there are no new revenue measures in place”.
It was also made clear that one of the taxes over the past few years, the controversial Interim Stabilisation Levy, will continue to be imposed throughout 2015. The projected revenue from this source for next year is estimated at EC$14.936 million, compared with EC$13.98 million in 2014.
The 2015 Budget will be the last to be presented by Mr Hubert Hughes, Chief Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Industry, Commerce and Tourism.
Now 81, Mr Hughes has indicated that he will not be contesting the general election in 2015, thus ending a long political career in Anguilla. He has already publicly and formally passed on the helm of his Anguilla United Movement to the new leader, and first-time election candidate, Dr Ellis Lorenzo Webster.
