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VI to kickoff 2020 with fully approved budget - Premier Fahie

- Budget was assented by Gov Jaspert on Fri, Dec 20, 2019 & gazetted same day
Noting that it is a proud achievement under his Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government, Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) recalled that rarely, a sitting administration has been able to complete the budget process in time. Photo: VINO/File
The National Budget for 2020 was passed at the Second Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly on Friday, December 13, 2019, before being sent to Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert for assent. Photo: VINO/File
The National Budget for 2020 was passed at the Second Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly on Friday, December 13, 2019, before being sent to Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert for assent. Photo: VINO/File
His Excellency Augustus J. U. Jaspert assented the 2020 Budget on Friday, 20 December 2019, and was also Gazetted on the same day. Photo: VINO/File
His Excellency Augustus J. U. Jaspert assented the 2020 Budget on Friday, 20 December 2019, and was also Gazetted on the same day. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - When the new year begins on January 1, 2020, the Virgin Islands will embark on its $414,008,611.00 National Budget for that year that was passed at the Second Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly on Friday, December 13, 2019, then subsequently sent to Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert for assent.

According to Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), in statments released on December 24, 2019, "I am pleased to advise that the 2020 Budget was assented to by His Excellency the Governor on Friday, 20 December 2019, and was also Gazetted on the same day." 

This means that the Government should be able to fully implement its "Transformation for Resilience and Sustainability: SMART Strategies, Empowered People, and Green Development," plan by December 2020. 

Promised delivered! 

Noting that it is a proud achievement under His Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government, Hon Fahie recalled that rarely, a government has been able to complete the budget process in time.

"It has been a very long time since any sitting Government of the Virgin Islands has been able to successfully complete all the stages of the Budget process on time, before the next fiscal year."

He said his government has kept the promised that the next budget for the Territory would be passed on December 15, 2019.

"We promised to move from a transitional budget to a transformation budget and so we did. A promise made! A promise kept! And, a promise delivered!"

He said the process included the Budget Call for ministries and departments, Cabinet’s Approval, First Reading of the Appropriation Bill in the House of Assembly, the Budget Address read by the Minister of Finance, deliberations of the Budget through Standing Finance Committee Meetings and the Budget Debate.

Gov't committed to good governance - Premier Fahie 

It also required further deliberations in the Committee stage of the House of Assembly by all Elected Members, followed by a the Second and Third Readings, of the Appropriation Bill, approval of the Budget by the House of Assembly, and then the ascension of the Appropriation Act, as passed by the House of Assembly, by the Governor.

"This means that the Territory will be able to start the New Year with a budget in place. It also stands as a testimony to your Government's commitment to the principles of good governance," the Premier underscored. 

He expressed gratitude to all who have contributed to making the approval process a speedy one, and urged the VI community to make 2020 the best year ever.

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