The Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration is set to receive the largest share of $51.2 million or 14.3 percent of the recurrent allocations outlined in the 2022 budget.

Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew Fahie in the 2022 Budget Address said this allocation is due to the reassignment of the National Health Insurance to the ministry as part of the streamlining of systems.

Premier Fahie said the reassignment was also done in 2020 to allow the Ministry of Health and Social Development to increase its focus on healthcare and public health during this COVID-19 era.

Minister of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Honourable Vincent Wheatley said that he was pleased with the streamlining of systems and that his ministry is working feverishly to continue to meet the goals that they set out to complete since he took office.

Honourable Wheatley said, “Your Government is analysing solutions to reduce the National Health Insurance programme deficit and make it more sustainable. I commend the hard working public officers in my ministry that have worked hard and continue to do so in the midst of a pandemic to ensure that the work is completed within a reasonable timeframe.”

Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew Fahie on Thursday, November 11, also addressed residents of the Virgin Islands on the state of the Territory in terms of its economic performance, fiscal performance, the 2021 fiscal strategy and outlook, and the way the Government plans to move forward in 2022 through reform.

The 2022 Budget address was delivered under the theme, “Strategically positioning new industries with sustainable innovation: continuing to improve the standard of living with focus on Education, Small Business, Healthcare, and Technology”.