Appropriation Bills passed; Finance Minister straightens records
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| Premier of Nevis and Minister of Finance Hon Joseph Parry |
CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (November 15, 2007) -- Three bills which sanctioned further payments from the Nevis Island Consolidated Fund in excess of the amounts in the Estimates for the years ending December 1998, 1999 and 2000 were passed at the sitting of the Nevis Island Assembly in Charlestown on Wednesday November 14, 2007.
The Nevis Supplementary Appropriation (1998) Ordinance, 2007; The Nevis Supplementary Appropriation (1999) Ordinance, 2007 and The Nevis Supplementary Appropriation (2000) Ordinance, 2007 all in the name of Premier of Nevis and Minister of Finance in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) Hon. Joseph Parry, allowed for several sums of public money amounting to $10,614,858 in 1998; $8,232,787 in 1999 and $13,819,451 in 2000 which had been disbursed without the authority of the Nevis Island Assembly by the former Concerned Citizens led-Administration.
“I rise to move this bill it is my duty to say a few words about this bill and matters relating to this bill as a whole. Madame President first of all, I must indicate too this Honourable House and to the people of Nevis at large, that since 1991 we have never had a Nevis Supplementary Appropriation. It does not mean that there were no appropriations, it simply means that for the last 14 - 15 years or so that nobody saw it fit to come to this Honourable House and move such bills.
“What are we discussing Madame President? We are really discussing the business of this country this island of Nevis. We are aware we have a parliament and that if we are going to spend public money from the Treasury, we have to get the approval of Parliament,” he said and added that the former Administration’s actions “smack something of irresponsibility and I dare say almost bordering on delinquency financial delinquency.~~Adz:Right~~
The Minister of Finance noted though budgeting was a difficult process and the expenditure for unforeseen contingencies was acceptable he was hard pressed to understand how major spending had taken place in the absence of the supplementary appropriations.
“There is nothing wrong with appropriation and supplementary warrants. What concerns me however, Madame President in this Honourable House is that no Appropriation Warrants have been approved for the last 15 years, none, it concerns me and expenditure has continued year after year, major expenditure without approval for all these years.
“For example we are looking at a sum of $10,614,858 that is serious money especially if you are dealing with a budget which is only about $70 or $80 million. You are talking about one eighth and as I said, perhaps, nothing is wrong with it but at least some effort should have been made to come in this Honourable House and have a discussion and seek approval.” he said.
In response, Leader of the Opposition Hon. Vance Amory who was the sitting Premier at the time, admitted that no supplementary appropriations were brought before parliament during the 15 years of his leadership.
“I do understand the concerns of the members opposite in seeking to make it appear as if someone of the entire CCM acted improperly. Madame President, yes we ought to have brought the supplementary Appropriations and Madame President I can say we did draft the appropriations. I could easily have sat down and said nothing because the government must understand that they have a responsibility to carry on the business of government that is what they are there for…
“Madame President, if the government has to bring the supplementary appropriation bill let them do that that’s their job now … let them do their job. I do not know why they want to make it appear as though it is not their function. Madame President, I just want this House to understand that there is a system and that there is a process and if a former government did not complete a particular arrangement it is the duty of the subsequent government to complete it. Madame President, do some, do all do one do none it is the duty of the present government to do what they are now doing…let me thank them for bringing it to the House, since you want to be thanked let me thank you. Madame President let me thank them for doing their job…” he said.
He thanked Mr. Parry and his colleagues for having taken the necessary steps to correct what should have been done.
