The government has had to make adjustments to the budget listing for this fiscal year, as per legal obligation, due to the recent cabinet shuffle.

The changes mean that Parliament‘s Public Administration and Appropriations Committee, PAAC, will be meeting today (January 26) to peruse the re-assignments.

This after Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke moved a motion in the Lower House yesterday (January 25), for the third supplementary estimates of expenditure, to be referred to the PAAC, for consideration and report.

Dr. Clarke explained that the change does not affect the overall budget spend or revenue; it‘s merely to facilitate the removal, re-location and creation of new ministerial portfolios.

The new estimates will now account for, among other things, the creation of the new Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Transfer of the Information Ministry to the Office of the Prime Minister and closure of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Renewal, which now falls under the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation.

In responding to the announcement, Opposition Spokesman on Finance Julian Robinson, described the situation as untidy.

Dr. Clarke countered that Mr. Robinson was being opportunistic.