2012 Budget Statement 5 December 2011
Hon. Harold E. Lovell Minister of Finance, the Economy and Public Administration
are aimed at those who refuse to contribute to funding our nation’s development, yet seek to benefit from the fruits made possible by compliant, law abiding citizens and residents. Finally Madam Speaker, I wish to thank the Acting Comptroller of Customs, Mr. Philmore Williams; Acting Commissioner of Inland Revenue, Mr. Ralph Warner; Revenue Reform Manager, Mr. Everett Christian; Director of ABST Implementation, Mr. Doug McLaren; and all other management and staff of the Customs Division and Inland Revenue Department for their continued commitment to transforming tax administration and service delivery in Antigua and Barbuda.
REVIEW OF GOVERNMENT TRAVEL PROCEDURES Madam Speaker Government expenditure on travel has been a matter of great debate and public contention. There are claims that too much is spent on travel, especially by Ministers, and that significant savings and value for money would be realised if there were greater limitations on Ministers’ travel. Madam Speaker, this Government has always been committed to reviewing programmes and procedures in the public sector to ensure the most efficient use of scarce resources. The Ministry of Finance has established a Government Travel Review Committee to examine the administrative procedures and cost of Government travel and to propose a new and comprehensive travel policy for the public sector. The Committee is chaired by the Director of Public Sector Transformation and comprises the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister along with representatives from the Establishment Department, Office of the Financial Secretary, and the Budget Office. As part of the review process, the Committee examined international best practices for administering Government travel and assessed the travel policies and procedures of national and regional organisations such as the ECCB, CDB and OECS Secretariat. The Committee also evaluated the travel policies of a number of countries in the region. They considered the administrative procedures for approving travel, size of the per diem rates, and how they should be applied to different categories of public sector employees. Preliminary findings of the group point to a need for:
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