The Legislative Assembly has approved an additional five million dollars to purchase essential equipment for the New National Hospital.
The funds were approved under the Supplementary Appropriation (2026) Bill, 2026, which was debated earlier this week.
Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Reuben T. Meade stated that the new funds are in addition to 4.5 already approved for hospital, which is due for completion in 2027.
Premier Meade said the Supplementary Appropriation Bill also covers expenditure to address pension payments cleaning of government offices, and Access.
He said approval was sought for expenditure of $1.5 million for Programme 120 to address pension and gratuity payments for the balance of fiscal year 2026-27.
Mr. Meade explained that of that amount “we’re looking as well as ensuring that persons who are obtaining pensions of less than $900 that that is accounted for.
There were shortfalls in gratuity payments. We’re trying to ensure that persons who have served can get their gratuities paid and that persons who are entitled to a pension, that their pension payments are adequately financed. Secondly, to approve expenditure of $443,000 to cover the shortfall in the funds to meet contractual cleaning obligations.
Government offices are cleaned by a Co-op that was initiated some years ago. Prices have gone up. Minimum wage has gone up.
We need to ensure that they get the additional funds required.
And additionally, another company apparently has received a contract to assist in the cleaning. So, it will be split between the co-op and the new company. $443,000, that is between now and March.
The Legislature approved the expenditure of $2 million to cover the shortfall in access to facilitate increased air access to the Twin Otter and Islander operations.
The premier explained that “these are funds which clearly we needed to put in so that we can keep the cost of travel into and out of Montserrat at subsidized levels.”
The Government sought and received approval for $5 million to facilitate the procurement of essential equipment for the new hospital.
According to Mr. Meade the Government already provided $4.5 million, and “here is the promise of the additional $5 million. We have a shortfall, which we will address possibly either in another supplementary later in the year, depending on our fiscal space.”
$1.5 to cover claims against government arising from ongoing legal costs half a million to cover additional refund payments also got the nod of members of the Legislative Council.