The Vincentian economy is predicted to grow 2.5 per cent in 2014, on the back of real economic growth in in 2013 preliminarily estimated at 2 per cent.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves in his Budget Speech on Monday told Parliament that the projected economic performance follows real economic growth in 2011 of 0.28 per cent, and 1.52 per cent in 2012.
He said economic growth in 2013 was led by construction, agriculture and fisheries, and manufacturing, while economic activity in tourism was mixed
He said preliminary data indicate a 16.3 per cent increase in construction activity for January to September 2013, compared with the same period of 2012.
Growth in value-added in the agricultural sector resulted from higher production of root crops, vegetables, bananas, and livestock.
Preliminary data show fish landings improved during the review period — January to September 2013.
There was an 8.4 per cent increase in the volume of fish landings, and a 16.6 per cent rise in the value.
In manufacturing, economic activity expanded in the 2013 review period with increases in output of flour (9.8 per cent), mill feed (11.8 per cent), animal feed (8.9 per cent), and beer (35.2 per cent).
Total visitor arrivals for January to September 2013 increased by 2.5 per cent over the corresponding period of 2012, totalling 145,703 visitors compared to 142,122 in 2012.
But the performance of the various tourism sub-sectors was mixed, Gonsalves said.
He told lawmakers that there was a 7.7 per cent increase in sea arrivals and a 4.9 per cent decline in air arrivals. There were increases in yacht visitors (0.5 per cent) and cruise visitors (12.8 per cent); and declines in same-day arrivals (-4.6 per cent), and stay-over visitors (-4.9 per cent).
“The high cost of air travel and the slow economic recovery, regionally and globally, are the major reasons attributable for the decline of air arrivals. Still, stay-over visitors account for the majority of visitors to our country,” Gonsalves said.
“I reiterate, Honourable Members, that without hard and smart work in each area of economic activity, our country will not progress as much as it should. Better and more productive attitudes to work and production are essential to wealth and job creation. These fundamentals must constitute the core of our culture,” he said.
Parliament on Tuesday approved an “interim” Budget of EC$911 million for this year.
A supplementary budget will be presented before the end of February, to take into account the loss and damage resulting from a low-level trough system on Christmas Eve.
The extreme weather triggered floods and landslides, claiming nine lives and leaving EC$330 million in damage, according to government estimates.
If it grows, it will only be because the brewery has increased its export last year, and will increase again its export this year. Nothing whatsoever to do with this Marxist led government, nothing whatsoever to do with anything that the are doing or what they have done.
In fact they have proved themselves to be fiscal failures and financial dunces.
We have no new industry, no new exporters, why? because no investors will come and invest under this present ultra socialist regime, they have witnessed what has happened in Venezuela our star ally who owes us 12 million dollars and who hasn’t sent a cent for the disaster fund, obviously a friend in need is not one of their priorities is it? Dont give us the crap about them being a member of the coalittion of the willing at the airport, it has turned out we have borrowed money everywhere and paid for 90% of everything ourselves. Which makes them part of the coalition of the unwilling.
So lets just see if this statement of increase is as silly as it sounds.
I just hope that any increase in figures is not a Maurice Bishop type of increase in figures.
His personal economy to grow by 2.5 % not SVG…
Is this guy for real? That’s why everyone is laughing at us. The cost of manufacturing is going up, energy going up. No agriculture, no tourism. He think’s because he mention a small number that it might be more believable, but there is no way that Vincy can have growth in 2014.
How? Hahahah. Vinlec raised the rate of electricity just yesterday, and that is going to put even more squeeze on the country. This is a farce and should be exposed as such, where is the growth coming from??
If I wasn’t Vincy I would laugh my belly full, with all this incompetence, but my family in SVG is feeling the pressure and people cannot take it anymore. Vincentians time to get rid of this guy, he is no good for the country.