Over $1B for development

Minister of Planning and Develop-ment, Dr Keith Rowley, yesterday dropped a hint as to the contents of the 2004 National Budget due on October 6.

He was addressing the AGM of the Caribbean Association of Consultants on the topic “Opportunities for local services professionals on the path to Vision 2020.” Rowley began by noting that the services sector constituted the lifeblood of developed economies, and as such our aspiration to developed status should include encouraging non-State actors. He said a National Strategic Development Plan to implement Vision 2020 was being developed by a multisectoral group established by Cabinet. This planning process will involve monitoring, review and evaluation, which he said, will extend partnerships between the Government, private sector and civil society.

Rowley said the Government invests many resources in the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP), an area which held great potential for private/public sector partnerships. “I encourage you to familiarise yourselves with the programmes to be implemented in the PSIP for fiscal year 2004.” He explained: “The Government’s thrust has been to outsource services in a range of areas including professional services for the preparation of feasibility studies and designs, development of information systems, negotiations, building and other civil works to name a few. These services will be sought from the private sector on the basis of established procurement procedures.”

Noting that last Budget the PSIP had about $1 billion for developmental expenditure (excluding things occurring under recurrent expenditure), Rowley hinted of the coming Budget: “Without telling tales out of school, expect the developmental programme to be substantially enhanced over 2003,” he added.