Security Budget has Increased – Minister Shaw

The Government has increased the allocation for national security in the 2016/17 Budget.

“The total resources provided is $59.2 billion, up by $2.4 billion from the $56.8 billion provided in the Revised Budget of 2015/2016,” said Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, as he closed the Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on May 25.

He said the provision is the second largest share of the non-debt expenditure after the allocation to the Education portfolio.

The Minister was responding to concerns about a cut in the Budget of the Ministry of National Security.

He said that what seems to have incited the criticism was the budgetary allocation reflected under the purchasing of stores and armoury activity.

He explained that the 2015/2016 Revised Budget allocation for this activity was $800 million and the sum requested by the Police Department in 2016/2017 and supported by the Ministry of Finance is $595 million.

“I am advised that inadvertently approximately $229 million was omitted from the Budget as tabled in April. I am further advised that the error has since been corrected and the budgetary allocation to the activity has been fully restored to $595 million by way of a Standing Finance Committee Amendment,” Mr. Shaw said.