Government House noted Saturday that the Senate is regularly updated on the financial situation of the U.S. Virgin islands, disputing Senate President Shawn Malone’s comments Friday that the "Senate awaits accurate financial data from the Administration."
The response came Saturday in a news release issued by Jean P. Greaux, Jr., Government House director of communications. The release was titled "Government House Says It Is Time for Peace on the Budget."
Malone’s comments in turn were made in response to a press conference Thursday in which Gov. John deJongh Jr. reported the territory’s budget deficit for the Fiscal Year 2014 had ballooned to $70.5 million and that, without tax increases or budget cuts, the government will run short of cash late in the year.
Saturday Greaux said the Senate has been kept abreast of the territory’s financial situation.
“The numbers speak for themselves and no one in the Legislature can claim to be surprised that we are facing a budget deficit of over $70 million,” Greaux said.
In his Friday statement, Malone had suggested such money saving moves as eliminating cars and cell phones for members of the executive branch, and making a stronger effort to collect taxes. Greaux said such measure, while a move in the right direction, would not come close to resolving the problem, and has the effect of making the looming deficit appear more easily resolved.
“In addressing this crisis, every dollar matters, but one can only wonder why so much of the Senator’s focus seems to be on minor matters, items that even when all added up would be but a drop in the budget bucket," Greaux said. "Not only does this approach direct attention away from the magnitude of the problem, but it seems also to conveniently direct attention away from the recent purchase by the Legislature of a new fleet of sleek Ford sports utility vehicles in both island districts. One hopes that this political smoke will soon be blown away and all elected officials will settle down to the serious work of resolving the budget shortfall. It is time to declare peace over the budget."
