2020/21 Budget Communication 2020-21 Budget Communication - Final (1)-compresse | Page 15

Notwithstanding, the Government is being judicious in its expenditure for all non-essential areas,
and we have made substantial reductions in several areas of recurrent expenditure across all
ministries. Our decreases are very targeted, as we are still fundamentally practicing expenditure
containment. Towards this end, we have, for example:
● Eliminated the assignment of red plate vehicles to Ministers in order to utilise them in other
areas of the public service
● Cancelled all international travel, except in essential circumstances
● Ended the practice of The House of Assembly providing breakfast and lunch
● Reduced a number of allocations on discretionary items. Some 42 out of 58 agencies
represented in the Budget will see a reduction in their budgetary allocations this year.
Additionally, a key focus of this Administration will continue to be improving the efficiency and
sustainability of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). This is a project that cannot be delayed, and
must, in fact, be accelerated. Likewise, Government ministries and departments must use
technology and innovation to reduce cost and increase efficiency.
All together, our revenue and expenditure measures, and our policy initiatives will lift the country
from the depths of crisis to the heights of opportunity. This unprecedented Budget will meet the
demands of these unprecedented times. This is our commitment to the Bahamian people. This is
our comprehensive plan.
Mr. Speaker, here is a detailing of the fiscal policy measures within this Budget.
b. Economic Support Measures for COVID-19 Fallout
Mr. Speaker,
The Economic Support measures from the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to be
a priority for the Government. We are allocating over $250 million to extend and expand the
initiatives we implemented in early March into the first half of the upcoming fiscal year. These
measures include:
● $48 million for continued unemployment assistance for persons who remain dislocated.
● $17 million in increased social welfare spending to provide expanded food assistance
through the Government’s food voucher initiative, as well as to support the expansion of
other social programs at the Ministry of Social Services.
● As a new measure, we will also fund a temporary incremental monthly increase of
$50.00 in the Old Age Pension administered by the National Insurance Board, to aid the
elderly who may be dependent on other family members that are now jobless because of
the pandemic. NIB is working on a roll-out date for this program and will communicate
with the public when it begins.
● $20 million in contingency funding allocation for Public Health Sector Support to ensure
sufficient funding for the ongoing detection, treatment and mitigation of COVID-19 in
The Bahamas. This will cover the cost for medical equipment and supplies, ensuring
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