The Saint Lucia Labour Party applauds Prime Minister Dr. Kenny D. Anthony on the delivery of his Government’s 2013-2014 Budget, which articulates appropriately a national Agenda for Economic Growth and Fiscal Sustainability.
According to the SLP, all St. Lucians recognize that we live in most challenging times and that the options for growth and development are severely limited. The SLP believes that it is at such times that tough decisions must be taken by government to secure the future of our country.
In the view of the Labour Party the 2013 -2014 Budget is a clear reflection of government’s desire to efficiently manage the business of the country for the benefit of all, and not to be sidetracked by the likes of Allan Chastanet who seems determined to create the illusion that all is well in the world.
The SLP is particularly pleased with government’s continuing commitment to the poor and less fortunate among us as demonstrated in measures such as: increases in allowances for the poor and indigent; increases in personal deductible allowance for personal income tax; increase of property tax threshold from $100,000 to $200,000; expansion of the PROUD programme to new areas of the country to help the landless become land owners; and the creation of a special allowance for parents of differently abled children to help them cope with the challenges associated with such circumstances.
In the view of the SLP, the proposed measures to spur and sustain economic growth are realistic and achievable in the current environment.
The measures in that regard are far reaching and extend to some of the key sectors of the economy, among them: a revised tourism incentive act to assist existing tourism business, and to encourage new investment in the sector; the introduction of a marketing strategy to attract visitors from the Latin American market, extending as far as Brazil; a fiscal incentive act to benefit the export and productive sector; transformation of Vieux Fort into a University Town with appropriate incentives to encourage injection of capital into the southern region; construction of a southern Administration complex which will bring much needed government services closer to the people in that region while creating new opportunities for employment; and the introduction this year of laptops to Form 4 students to be followed next year by laptops to Form 1 students.
The SLP also points to the expressed determination to cut wastage: installation of GPS monitoring of government vehicles and the introduction of LED Street lights are only two of the examples.
The SLP plans to take the discussion on the budget to constituencies around the country.
Add St. Lucia News Online on Whatsapp (758-722-6586) and Blackberry Messenger (2A983D96); follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/slunewsonline) and like us on Facebook (facebook.com/stlucianewsonline) for breaking stories and news as it is posted.