2018/19 Budget Communication 2018_2019 BUDGET COMMUNICATION | Page 114

beyond the fiscal means available, one deficit after another and a burden of Government debt rapidly approaching critical limits. The era of fiscal irresponsibility has come to an end and, as we promised Bahamians, fiscal discipline will henceforth prevail. With this Budget, we have introduced a legally binding framework that obliges us to adhere to a mandated schedule of continuous deficit reduction and that will prevent any future Government from ever engaging in reckless fiscal management and excessive deficit financing. Our Government has hit the ground running in developing this Budget within the full constraints of the new Fiscal Responsibility legislation. Quite frankly, with the evolving fiscal pressures that we confront, in respect of both Recurrent and Capital expenditure, the looming downward pressures on Recurrent Revenue, as well as the dire need to 111