 Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Hon. Philip J. Pierre, delivered his second budget summary address in the parliament for financial year 2022-2023, during the annual laying of the estimates of revenue and expenditure on March 28. The Prime Minister's prudent fiscal management abilities, in conjunction with the industrious policy implementation efforts by the technocrats across the public service, resulted in a favorable economic outturn at the conclusion of the 2023 fiscal year. Mr Speaker, for the 2022-2023 fiscal year, I am pleased to report that the government was able to stay within its budget ceiling and the economy performed much better than anticipated. Mr Speaker, preliminary data up to February 2023 indicates that the government will be spending approximately 1.571 billion for the fiscal year 2022-2023, which is higher than the actual in 2021-2022 by 15 percent, or an increase of 174.8 million, but less than the approved estimates of 1.842 billion. The Prime Minister was able to contain government expenditure and also execute policies that resulted in a reduction in the fiscal deficit and also yielded a primary surplus. Mr Speaker, due to the performance of the economy, the primary surplus is expected in the amount of 29.6 million in contrast to a primary deficit of 220 million initially projected in the approved estimates. In the year 2021-2022, the primary deficit was 156 million. The Minister of Finance has successfully nursed central government operations from historic declines experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic to improved fiscal vitality into his second term in office. The 2023-2024 estimates of revenue and expenditure amounts to easy $1.85 billion. The priority areas for the upcoming fiscal year include national security and public health care. The budget also seeks to shore up government support in the areas of equity and facilitate continued economic expansion. The budget comprises recurrent expenditure of $1.4 billion, capital expenditure of $414.4 million, including principal repayment of $112.2 million.