By Leiselle Maraj Tuesday, September 8 2009

Finance Minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira yesterday called the 2010 Budget one to get the country through the hard times by providing employment and economic stimulation.

In a media conference called at the Red House after she made the three-hour long presentation in Parliament yesterday, the minister defended her $44 billion package for the new fiscal year.

“The focus should be on what Government is doing so the economy does not go into further contraction. We are maintaining expenditure in critical areas, national security being one, social programmes are another, health and education; these are critical areas and infrastructure is a part of that and under this, construction is key.”

Nunez-Tesheira went on to say that it has been proven that growth is achieved through economic stimulation and ensuring that employment figures are maintained.

“We are not in a situation of our making and we are not the only ones going through this. Not a country has been spared but you have to look at how do we respond, do we sit by and do nothing or step up to the plate by providing programmes to provide employment and stimulate the economy,” she said.

“We are not duplicating anyone’s effort but we are doing things that are time honoured, that have been tried and tested and consistent with dealing with the situation at hand,” she said.

She added that despite the deficit of $7.7 billion which is expected due to next year’s expenditure, government’s programmes are expected to put the country on the track including repaying debts to fund this deficit.