I would like to begin today’s session with a clarification on the timetable by which the Turks and Caicos Islands budget for financial year 2012/13 will be consulted upon and agreed.
The governor’s office published this timetable on Thursday. However, it has incited considerable outrage because it calls for the draft budget to be signed off by UK ministers on 19 April before being submitted to the Consultative Forum on 7 May.
The general impression is that this proves that the UK intends to use the Forum as nothing more than a rubber stamp. This impression is understandable of course. But it is mistaken. Because a plain reading of this timetable clearly shows that even though the budget will be submitted on 7 May, the Forum will have until 21 May to approve it. That gives this body a full two weeks to engage in a line-item review and debate of this budget.
I have no doubt, especially given the controversy surrounding last year’s timetable, that members will be very keen to voice any disagreement they have with any of its provisions. And I am equally certain that all disagreements will be duly reconciled – notwithstanding prior approval by UK ministers.
In any event, I made a point of securing written assurances from the CEO/Acting Governor that the Forum will have the more substantive role I’ve outlined here and will not be used as a mere rubber stamp as some inferred from the governor’s timetable.
Of course, only time will tell. But I want to assure the public that this body will do all within its power to ensure that our budget promotes our sustainable economic development. Even if this means boycotting the budget approval process to prevent the British from making us indentured servants to debt payments in perpetuity.
Ms. Lillian Misick
Chair Consultative Forum
