28 October 2010
Treasury Minister, Senator Philip Ozouf is inviting Island groups and associations to join him in discussions on the budget proposals.
Over the past few months, the Minister has met numerous groups and engaged in a focused dialogue on the budget and spending reviews and these have proved extremely productive. Initially these meetings were part of the public consultation process on the Fiscal Strategy review and provided an opportunity for the Minister to listen to the views and opinion of Islanders. The second phase of this programme is designed to explain the proposals but also provides a further opportunity for the Minister to listen and understand the views of Islanders. He is keen to meet as many groups as possible before the budget debate on 7 December 2010.
Senator Ozouf explained "The meetings I held gave me the opportunity to listen to the views of people from all sections of the community" he said today, "I hear a wide spectrum of opinions and it helped me to better understand the issues that really affected businesses and organisations. The meetings now will give me the chance to explain the budget proposals that the Council of Ministers is putting forward.
"I believe that focused two-way communication is important. The budget proposals are tough but I believe fair, and I welcome the chance to discuss the rationale and background behind them. I am accepting every opportunity I can to attend public events but these smaller meetings provide an opportunity to engage in debate with individual groups and organisations."
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