budget statement 2012.indd - Grenada Customs & Excise Division

This is indeed a sacrifice for Ministers. However, sacrifices are
needed at all levels of our society at this difficult time.
Mr. Speaker, the situation where Government is spending at least 50
cents on every dollar on wages and salaries and paying at $21.4 million
per month is not sustainable. The result is inadequate spending on
development projects in tourism, agriculture and roads that can help
rebuild the economy and create jobs.
Government, with national support, must work assiduously to reduce
the amount of every dollar spent on wages and debt and increase the
amount of every dollar spent on development projects.
Waste Reduction Campaign
Last year, Government spent a whopping $40 million on Utilities and
Office Supplies. Each month, Government spent:
• Electricity - $1.6 million
• Telecommunications - $700,000
• Water - $450,000
• Office Supplies - $460,000
• Fuel & Petrol - $220,000
Mr. Speaker, these costs are unacceptably high.
Government simply cannot continue to spend these large sums on
utility and fuel bills.
In this regard, the recently established Waste Reduction Unit in the
Ministry of Finance with the support of the Senior Managers Board
has designed a Waste Reduction Campaign styled: Cut the Waste,
What Gets Measured Get’s Done!
Under this campaign, the following targets have been set for 2012:
• Electricity Charges – 20% reduction
• Telecommunication Charges – 50% & 10% reduction in
mobile and land line charges respectively
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2012 Budget Statement