The 2011 Budget, passed in the Anguilla House of Assembly on Thursday, December 23, 2010, will not be signed as it stands by Governor Alistair Harrison.

Secretary of State, William Hague

A press statement issued by the Governor’s Office on Wednesday, January 5, and signed by Mr. Harrison, stated as follows:

“I have informed members of EXCO, and will be confirming in a letter to all members of the House of Assembly, that I will be instructed by the Secretary of State to reserve the 2011 Appropriation Bill for signification of Her Majesty’s pleasure. UK Ministers will be writing shortly to the Chief Minister explaining the background to this decision, and to propose a way forward so that the Governments of the United Kingdom and Anguilla can agree a budget for 2011 that puts Anguilla’s public finances onto a more sustainable footing.

“In taking this step, the British Government has not (not) indicated that it seeks to impose a particular budget settlement, or a particular level of reduction in expenditure or in the numbers of the public service; but it will expect the cooperation of the Government of Anguilla in moving forward.”

Governor Alistair Harrison

An explanation of the press statement by the Governor’s Office said it meant that he would “not be signing off the 2011 budget as it stands.”

The 2011 Budget called for an expenditure of $188,002,325, with projected revenue of $177,685,041, creating a deficit of $10,317,284. The Budget was supported by a number of taxes which amounted to $21,307,700.

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