Introduction

For the past couple of years, the budget of TCI has been growing at a rate of more than 4%. Only one year the budget remained unchanged and that was 2017/18 because of the Hurricanes. The biggest increase in the budget was in 2016/17 at a rate of 12%.  In 2013/14, Budget (B) was 209M and Actual (A) was 202M, 2014/15, B was 218M and A was $246M. In 2015/16. B was 228M and A was $264. In 2016/17, B was $255M and A was $263M. In 2017/18, B was $273M and Actual was $277M. In 2018/19, B was $273 and Actual was $277M. In 2018/19 B was $273M and A was $309M and in 2019/20 B is $303M representing an increase of 11%.

The increases in our budget on annual basis indicate a continuous positive trend in our country. This article will examine the Good, the Bad and Ugly Elements of the Budget

The Good

Accommodation tax and import duties continue to dominate the budget representing 69,403,664 and 78,485,921 respectively. This is a good indicator that tourism is expected to increase.

The legislation for Credit Unions was passed in August 2016 and now two and half years later, regulations for credit union are expected to be implemented by June.

Another great initiative is the provision for the Trade Vocational Institute. This is indeed a great milestone and is long overdue.

This budget has provision for the establishment of a Ministry of Housing and Trade.  We have such a major housing shortage issue, pricing of housing and an increase in illegal shacks in our country. Hopefully the Ministry will address these issues. Well done on the creation of these ministries.

The Government intends to review the Procurement Ordinance and the cost of living assessment. Should these initiatives become activated, this will be great for all residents.

The Bad

Given the changes in the all-inclusive accommodation tax rate, I am not sure the budgeted accommodation tax will be realized.

Work permit continues to be a major revenue earner for the Government projecting $30, 142,059 which is an increase over last year budget and last year actuals.  The majority of this is for work permits fees and permanent residence fees. Does this mean more workers are expected to come to TCI? Are the fees increasing? Should we encourage and promote locals living abroad in Bahamas, USA and UK to return home? Perhaps offer some sort of incentives.

$3million was spent to purchase a school building a few days before year end with the intent to accommodate the vocational institute. That building is not suited for a vocational institute in its current state.  Since the Government has already purchased the building, I recommend the Government retain the building as a permanent place for Oseta Jolly. The Oseta Jolly location in Blue Hills can be used for expansion of the Clement Howell since they plan to introduce A-level in the secondary school. I also heard the former Minister of Education recommended that form 3 should be at Clement High. I highly recommend that the Government find suited land perhaps next to the Long Bay High School to construct the vocational Institute.

If the Government is building a complex and has already purchased three buildings on the island of Providenciales, then why Property rentals are increasing in 2019/20 to $5.2M and remain so in 2020/21. There is slight decline in 2021/22.

The Ugly

NHIB and Hospital charges are the second largest expenditure of the budget in the amount of $54,880,168, with $33,254,427 for NHIB and 21,625,741 for Hospital.  This line item is steady over the next three years. Does this imply that the overseas medical treatment costs are not expected to decline? Are there no plans to expand additional services at the Hospital?

The integrity commission made recommendations to changes in the parliamentarians’ allowances since June 2016. These were approved at this budget hearing. I know there are some parliamentarians who have made and are making sacrifices in their career and time to serve in Parliament but I think in comparison to the rest of the Caribbean, our parliamentarians are adequately compensated. I don’t see the need to make any changes at this time for any allowances let alone making them retroactively.

Conclusion

I hope this financial year is not like previous years in which projects never materialized and some believe it is due to the absence of project managers. Perhaps Government needs to change the procurement ordinance and outsource project management similar to what was done many years ago.