Senate approves $18 million increase in state funds

The Senate held a brief session today in which it approved amendments to the Appropriation Bill 2020 to the tune of $18 million dollars.

The changes were made following the Cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley in July. The changes saw the amalgamation of some ministries which meant reallocation of funds.

“In terms of the amendments, it speaks to the allocation of funds to the new assigned ministries and it moves from $1.579 billion to $1.597 billion. This is a very straightforward matter in terms of the amendments to the Appropriation Bill,” Leader of Government Business Senator Jerome Walcott said.

“I will not delve into matters of finance. This is a matter for the other Chamber in this regard, in terms of this Bill. There will be no need for it to go to a committee when it comes to that stage.”

There were no other contributions from the Government side, nor were there objections from either Opposition or Independent Senators.

“Mr President, as I indicated, I certainly didn’t expect there to be much debate on this matter,” Senator Walcott said before moving that the Bill be read a second and third time.

The Bill was subsequently passed and cited as the Appropriation (Amendment) Act 2020. (IMC)