GRENADA ECONOMY GROWS, UNEMPLOYMENT FALLS, TOURISTS ARRIVALS TAKE OFF ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA, November 26, 2014 – GIS: The Grenada economy is expected to grow by 2.6 percent this year, higher than the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) average of 1.4 percent. Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dr. Keith Mitchell made the announcement during his presentation of the 2015 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditures in Parliament Wednesday morning. Prime Minister Mitchell says that the 2.6 percent economic growth being forecast surpasses the 1.5 percent projected when the 2014 budget was presented. The lead sectors contributing to this improvement in the local economy have been identified as tourism, agriculture and education. The Grenadian leader disclosed that tourist arrivals grew by 16.4 percent for the first nine months of the year. Factors contributing to this rise include the opening of Sandals LaSource, improved airlift and some aggressive marketing of the country by the newly established Grenada Tourism Authority. Meantime results of the 2014 Labour Force Survey have indicated that unemployment in Grenada has fallen significantly. Preliminary results of the 2014 Labour Force Survey indicate that unemployment has now fallen to 29.5 percent from a high of more than 40 percent under the previous National Democratic Congress administration. Also and as promised, the Keith Mitchell administration has rolled out more support to tackle the country’s housing needs. There has been an increased allocation to the Grenada Home Improvement Scheme from 5.35 million to 6 million. There has also been an increase from two to four million dollars for the Soft Loan Programme managed by the Housing Authority of Grenada. The Prime Minister also announced that 350 families are about to receive housing units constructed in Soubise, Frequente and Mt. Gay, under the Chinese Low Income Housing Programme. The second phase of a Chinese housing programme attempts to provide homes for 650 families and will be built in Beausejour, Frequente, Black Bay, Diamond on the mainland and Dumffries in Carriacou. Prime Minister Mitchell also announced that the Needy Assistance Programme has been doubled from 500, 000 to 1 million. The 2015 Budget provides for total expenditure of one billion, one hundred and fifty-two million, two hundred and thirty-four thousand two hundred and thirty-seven dollars. The seven largest allocation are debt 459.3 million, Ministry of Education and Human Resources 114.1 million, Ministry of Finance and Energy 90.3 million, Ministry of Youth and Sports 67.5 million, Ministry of Health 64 million, Ministry of Works 58.8 million, and pension and gratuities 48.4 million. -30-
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 17:39:51 +0000
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