The new date for the Budget Debate is Monday, December 18, 2023, at 10:00 AM, at the House of Assembly (HoA) Chambers in Road Town, the capital city. Photo: VINO/File

On Tuesday, November 21, 2023, Dr Wheatley presented a Budget of $399,838,963 to the people of the Virgin Islands. After that, there were two weeks of Standing Finance Committee (SFC) hearings; which is usually closed to the public, where HoA Members had a chance to question Department and Statutory Body Heads about their plans along with issue challenges to some of the proposed spending. Photo: HoA/Youtube

No reasons were given by the House of Assembly’s Public Relations Officer Mr Linton V. Leonard for the late notice or the abrupt rescheduling.

The new date is Monday, December 18, 2023, at 10:00 AM, at the House of Assembly (HoA) Chambers in Road Town, the capital city.

Constitutional review report coming?

Mr Leonard could not be reached to explain the sudden change of plans and the late notice.

At Monday’s continuation meeting, which is the Sixth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) is expected to lay on the table the Constitutional Review Report submitted to him on November 27, 2023.

The main item remains the Budget Debate for the 2024 Appropriation Act, according to HoA spokesman Mr Leonard in his correspondence to the press.

See related article published December 9, 2023

Budget Debate for 2024 Appropriation Act set for Dec 12, 2023

The first anticipated Budget Debate for the Fifth House of Assembly is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, in the House of Assembly (HoA) Chambers in Road Town, the Capital City.

They will be debating the Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley's (R7) spending plans for fiscal year 2024.

On Tuesday, November 21, 2023, Dr Wheatley presented a Budget of $399,838,963 to the people of the Virgin Islands.  After that, there were two weeks of Standing Finance Committee (SFC) hearings; which is usually closed to the public, where HoA Members had a chance to question Department and Statutory Body Heads about their plans and challenges to some of the proposed spending. 

Most Statutory Heads along with Central government Departments requested more money to fulfill their mandates.

Opposition parties will be critical

The Budget Debate is one where both Government Legislators and Opposition Members actively engage in the proposed spending as members of the public pay a keen interest in the conversations. Over the years, Opposition members have also used the debate to dissect the budget and score political points by using information from Department Heads and others, to hammer away at the Government's fiscal Plans.

The Sitting on December 12, 2023, will be the continuation of the Sixth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly. 

The sitting is expected to start at 11:00 AM and will be carried live on the House of Assembly VI Youtube; House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands Facebook; 780 AM ZBVI Radio; CBN-Radio (90.9 FM); FLOW TV Channel 101; and CCT TV Channel 291.