With just a day before the budget debate scheduled for Tuesday morning, RTC News received an email from the Consulative Forum Chair on the cancellation of the annual meeting.
In Miss Lillian Missick letter she states the following reasons:
During the course of the weekend, I was notified by several members of the Consultative Forum that they will not take part in the 2011/12 Budget debate due to be held on Tuesday 5 April. The effect of their absence would be to render the meeting inquorate. I have advised the Governor accordingly, and have cancelled the meeting.
It is regrettable that this move has been necessary and that the opportunity for public discussion has been missed by the Forum. Some members have argued that they will not be adequately prepared for tomorrow’s meeting. However, as I reminded all members, they have already received two extensive briefings from the Ministry of Finance in closed sessions, and have had the opportunity to offer their views which were taken into consideration.
At our meeting on 28 March, members received a Summary Sheet of the budget. I have been assured by the Ministry of Finance that the Budget Booklet, which was circulated to members on Friday, and which sets out in greater detail the particulars of the Estimate of Recurrent Revenue and Expenditure for April 2011 – March 2012, is consistent with the Summary Sheet presented to us by the Permanent Secretary, Finance. I believe, therefore, that having had the benefit of the discussions with the PS/Finance and this assurance, we were in a position to proceed with the public Budget session which had already been postponed once for our benefit.
I have also pointed out to members that, given the current state of the country’s financial affairs, there are revenue measures that must be addressed immediately for the Government to meet its obligations and for us to achieve the milestones within the stated timeframe to enable elections to take place in 2012. I am therefore disappointed that the public will not have the opportunity to hear the Permanent Secretary Finance read the 2011/12 Budget statement to the Forum or the ensuing debate as planned on 5 April.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, I wish to register my appreciation to the Budget Team for their sterling efforts.
Lillian Misick
