Dominica: The National Budget Day in Commonwealth of Dominica was observed as Minister for Finance, Economic Development, Climate Resilience and Social Security – Dr. Irving McIntyre presented a $1.2 billion fiscal package to the Parliament.
Dr. Irving McIntyre presented the National Budget of Dominica for the fiscal year 2025-26 at the House of Assembly. He was conjoined by the President Sylvanie Burton, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who arrived there along with his wife and first lady of Dominica Melissa Poponne Skerrit.
Dominica Budget 2025 Theme
First and foremost, Minister Irving McIntyre unveiled the theme of Budget 2025. Amidst high anticipation and high public interest, the finance minister stepped onto the podium after a powerful address received from the President of Dominica – Sylvanie Burton, who delivered a critical address on the 2025 Finance Bill.
Finance Minister McIntyre announced the theme of Budget 2025 i.e. ‘Balance in Resilient Development and Fiscal Discipline for Sustainable Growth’. Dominica’s Budget 2025 highlighted strong growth observed last year considering GDP and Economic Trends of the nation.
Dominica Budget 2025 Upcoming Plans
During the budget address 2025-26 Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre stated that he will now give an overview of the achievement in the year 2025. The 2026 budget outlines the plan for the coming year.
Dr. Irvin McIntyre stressed majorly the impact of global uncertainty on economic performance. He stated that as per the World Economic Outlook Report of April 2025, the swift acceleration of tension and extremely higher levels of political uncertainty are having a significant bank on the global economy.
Furthermore, global growth is estimated at 2.8 this year with projections of six representing the world. This growth in advanced economies is projected to be 1.4% in 2025 and in emerging markets and development. Also, economic growth is expected to slow down by 3.7% in 2025 and 3.9% in 2026.
Minister McIntyre also stated that the regional economic activity in the Eastern Caribbean Union expanded in 2024 by 3.6% and is expected to continue with projections of 3.2% and 3.4% for 2025 and 2026 respectively.
Growth in Regional Trends
The Finance Minister said that he is glad to report that they are seeing growth with regional trends. The real GDP of Dominica is estimated to have grown by 3.5% in 2024. This growth was fueled majorly by
- robust wholesale and retail trade
- ambitious public investment program
- increase in tourism activity
- growth in agricultural output
Dr. McIntyre further noted that inflation has eased and said that the rate of inflation also declined slightly, averaging 3.1% in 2024 down from 3.5% in 2023 due to the easing of food and commodity prices.
According to him, the current account deficit is estimated to have narrowed by 2% to 32.2% of GDP in 2024 but remains above its norm due to import-heavy infrastructure projects. As currently, the debt-to-GDP ratio is high at around 89%.
Dominica Budget 2025 Sheds Light on CBI Programme Legacy
President of Dominica –Sylvanie Burton strongly supported the role of Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme in shaping the development and resilience of the country over the last three decades.
The CBI programme was introduced in 1993 and is now one of the world’s longest running economic internship programmes. President Burton highlighted that Dominica has also been placed on the top spot of the CBI Index ranking several times. It was 20 years of unwavering commitment that led the programme of the current administration to achieve transformation of the nation.
Improved CBI Programme Across Regions
President of Dominica noted the regional efforts that were put to strengthen the programme, in a recent OECS Meeting which was held in Caribbean nation Antigua in April 2025. The meeting addressed the concerns about improving CBI programmes across the region, and a Memorandum of Understanding was also signed.
Sylvanie Burton further picked up the contribution of the CBI programme to present in her presentation that improved the economy and sustainable development. It was immense that highlighted its revenue over the years as it funded the national projects in:
- Infrastructure
- Healthcare
- Education
- Housing
- Tourism
- Climate resilience
Sylvanie further listed the recent projects that were supported by the programme and said that lately a new international airport with other major developments such as geothermal energy, major hotel developments, climate-resilient homes, 12 new health centres, school construction and renovation.
The projects also included the new Marigot Hospital, the tablets initiative, Marina Portsmouth, and the cable car. These initiatives have the power to transform the economic landscape and improve lives across Dominica.
President Burton: CBI Programme is a Lifeline for Dominica
President Sylvanie Burton also addressed the critics and noted that over the years CBI programme has come under various attacks from critics and traditional media and across social media platforms. But they declared that – these voices do not have the interest of Dominica at heart. Their mission is not to build but to break down, not to uplift but to undermine. Their problem is not national progress, but the personal and political agenda.
She further described the programme as ‘a lifeline for Dominica’ and added that ‘it has helped them heal after disasters, supported infrastructure, improved healthcare and education, and created thousands of opportunities for the people’.