Budget on the way

The much anticipated 2010 budget will be here sooner, rather than later, Acting Prime Minister Freundel Stuart indicated yesterday.Stuart, who is also the Acting Minister of Finance while Prime Minister David Thompson continues to receive medical attention overseas, gave that hint on the final day of the Democratic Labour Party’s 55th annual general conference.“Parliament rose on Tuesday last for its summer recess until October 19. Thereafter, at a time to be determined by the Government, our response to the effect of the challenges on Barbados will be shared with the country in a Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals,” Stuart told party faithful at the George Street Auditorium.And, according to Stuart, there will be no decision regarding the future of Barbados without every aspect of society being channelled for assistance.“All of this will be preceded by exchanges with the representatives of labour and capital, and a full meeting of the Social Partnership, over which either the Prime Minister or I, will preside,” Stuart noted.He said that everything would be done when the time is right, and the Opposition Barbados Labour Party would not succeed in trying to rush Government to bring a Budget to the table.“Do you really think that there is something that Mia Mottley [Opposition Leader] or Dale Marshall [former Attorney General] or Owen Arthur [former Prime Minister] can understand that any Democratic Labour Party member or Parliamentarian can’t?” Stuart asked.“The brains of the DLP Cabinet members and parliamentarians are organised, and unlike the ragbag of political odds and ends of which Miss Mottley’s utterances are so consistent a reflection,” Stuart exclaimed.He then thanked the Public Service and the private sector for the understanding they had shown over the past two years, when the economic crisis hit serious proportions.“We take neither our households, our businesses nor our Public Service for granted, and will do everything in our power to minimise the impact of any sacrifices they make in this national effort,” the Acting Prime Minister concluded.